小遣(こづか)い

こづかい
noun
pocket money, allowance
1. pocket money, allowance, spending money
Money given regularly to children or budgeted for personal spending. Also refers to money a married person receives for personal use from the household budget.
毎月(まいつき)小遣(こづか)いをもらう。
I get pocket money every month.
子供(こども)の小遣(こづか)いは月(つき)に千円(せんえん)だ。
The child's allowance is 1,000 yen per month.
夫(おっと)の小遣(こづか)いを減(へ)らしたら文句(もんく)を言(い)われた。
When I reduced my husband's allowance, he complained.

Usage

For children, 小遣(こづか)い refers to a regular allowance. For adults, particularly married men in Japan, 小遣(こづか)い refers to the personal spending money allocated from the household budget. The topic of サラリーマンの小遣(こづか)い (salaryman's allowance) is a common subject in Japanese media.
The polite form お小遣(こづか)い is very common, especially when parents talk about children's allowances. Also written as 小遣(こづか)い or お小遣(こづか)い in kana.

Common collocations

  • 小遣(こづか)いをもらう — to receive pocket money
  • 小遣(こづか)いを上(あ)げる — to raise the allowance
  • 小遣(こづか)い稼(かせ)ぎ — earning extra pocket money
  • お小遣(こづか)い — pocket money (polite form with お)

Related Words

Compare: へそくり (secret savings)
general
Added 2026.2.21 14:26 · Revised 2026.10.2 4:41
12000/12363_kozukai