1.
cost price; production cost
The actual cost to produce or acquire something before profit margin.
原価を下げる努力をする。
To make efforts to reduce the cost price.
原価割れで販売している。
They are selling below cost.
原価は100円だが、500円で売っている。
The cost is 100 yen, but it's sold for 500 yen.
原価 means the cost price or production cost — the actual expense of making or acquiring something before any profit margin is added. The kanji combine 原 (original) + 価 (price).
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 原価計算: cost accounting
- 原価割れ: below cost (selling at a loss)
- 原価率: cost ratio
- 原価を下げる: to reduce costs
RELATED PRICE TERMS:
- 単価: unit price
- 売価: selling price
- 定価: list price / retail price
- 仕入れ値: purchase price (what a retailer pays)
- 利益: profit
NOTE:
原価 is a business/accounting term. In casual conversation, people are more likely to say 元値 (original price) or simply いくらで仕入れた (how much it was bought for).