現金(げんきん)

げんきん
noun
cash, ready money
1. cash, ready money
Physical currency as opposed to credit.
現金(げんきん)で払(はら)う。
To pay in cash.
現金(げんきん)を持(も)っていない。
I don't have cash on me.
ATMで現金(げんきん)を下(お)ろした。
I withdrew cash from the ATM.
このお店(みせ)はカードが使(つか)えないので、現金(げんきん)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
This shop doesn't accept cards, so you need cash.
最近(さいきん)は現金(げんきん)を使(つか)う人(ひと)が減(へ)って、電子(でんし)マネーで払(はら)う人(ひと)が増(ふ)えた。
Recently, fewer people use cash and more people pay with electronic money.

現金(げんきん) refers to physical currency (bills and coins) as opposed to digital or credit-based payments.

COMPONENTS:

  • 現(げん): present, current, actual
  • 金(きん): money, gold

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 現金(げんきん)で払(はら)う (to pay in cash)
  • 現金(げんきん)を引(ひ)き出(だ)す (to withdraw cash)
  • 現金(げんきん)を下(おろ)す (to withdraw cash - colloquial)
  • 現金(げんきん)払(ばら)い (cash payment)
  • 現金(げんきん)のみ (cash only)

CONTRAST WITH OTHER PAYMENT METHODS:

  • 現金(げんきん): cash (physical money)
  • クレジットカード: credit card
  • 電子(でんし)マネー: electronic money (Suica, PayPay, etc.)
  • 振(ふ)り込(こ)み: bank transfer
  • 小切手(こぎって): check

CULTURAL NOTE:
Japan has traditionally been a cash-heavy society, though digital payments have grown rapidly. Many small shops and restaurants still prefer 現金(げんきん).

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Added 2026.1.11 16:27 · Revised 2026.3.27 22:01
02500/02716_genkin