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.
毎月小遣いをもらう。
I get pocket money every month.
子供の小遣いは月に千円だ。
The child's allowance is 1,000 yen per month.
夫の小遣いを減らしたら文句を言われた。
When I reduced my husband's allowance, he complained.
USAGE:
For children, 小遣い refers to a regular allowance. For adults, particularly married men in Japan, 小遣い refers to the personal spending money allocated from the household budget. The topic of サラリーマンの小遣い (salaryman's allowance) is a common subject in Japanese media.
COLLOCATIONS:
- 小遣いをもらう — to receive pocket money
- 小遣いを上げる — to raise the allowance
- 小遣い稼ぎ — earning extra pocket money
- お小遣い — pocket money (polite form with お)
NOTE:
The polite form お小遣い is very common, especially when parents talk about children's allowances. Also written as 小遣い or お小遣い in kana.