1.
penalty fee; cancellation fee
A fee charged when breaking or canceling a contract before its term ends, common with phone contracts, gym memberships, and rental agreements.
違約金はいくらですか。
How much is the cancellation fee?
途中解約すると違約金がかかる。
If you cancel early, there's a penalty fee.
2年縛りの契約で違約金が高かった。
The penalty fee was high because of the two-year contract.
違約金 is common in Japanese service contracts. Phone contracts traditionally had 2-year terms (2年縛り) with significant cancellation fees, though regulations have changed to reduce these.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 違約金が発生する (penalty fee is incurred)
- 違約金なし (no cancellation fee)
- 違約金を払う (to pay a penalty fee)
RELATED TERMS:
- 解約: cancellation
- 契約期間: contract period
- 2年縛り: 2-year contract binding