駄賃(だちん)

だちん
noun
small reward for an errand; tip; packhorse fare
money
1. small reward for running an errand; pocket money for a favor
A small amount of money or a treat given to someone, especially a child, as a reward for doing a small task or errand.
お使(つか)いの駄賃(だちん)にアイスを買(か)った。
I bought ice cream as a reward for running the errand.
子供(こども)に駄賃(だちん)をやって手紙(てがみ)を届(とど)けさせた。
I gave the child a small reward and had them deliver a letter.
駄賃(だちん)がもらえるからと喜(よろこ)んでお使(つか)いに行(い)った。
Delighted at the prospect of a small reward, they happily went on the errand.
2. packhorse fare; freight charge (historical)
Originally, the fee paid for transporting goods by packhorse. This historical sense survives mainly in set expressions.
江戸(えど)時代(じだい)は馬(うま)の駄賃(だちん)が決(き)められていた。
In the Edo period, packhorse fares were fixed.
荷物(にもつ)の駄賃(だちん)は重(おも)さで変(か)わった。
The freight charge varied by weight.
宿場町(しゅくばまち)では駄賃(だちん)を払(はら)って荷物(にもつ)を次(つぎ)の宿(やど)まで運(はこ)ばせた。
At post towns, people paid freight charges to have their luggage carried to the next inn.

Originally a transport term, now most commonly used for the small reward given to children for running errands. Has a warm, slightly nostalgic feel.

Etymology

駄(だ) (packhorse) + 賃(ちん) (fare, charge). Originally the fee for hiring a packhorse to carry goods. Over time, the meaning shifted to any small payment for a simple task.

Common expressions

Related words

Related Words

Related: 報酬(ほうしゅう) (reward, compensation)
general
Added 2026.3.29 20:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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