1.
principal; capital; original investment amount
The original sum of money invested or lent, as distinct from any interest or profit earned on it.
元金を返済する。
To repay the principal.
利息だけでなく元金も減らしていかなければならない。
You need to reduce not just the interest but also the principal.
投資した元金を回収するまでに三年かかった。
It took three years to recoup the original investment.
Composed of 元 (original, base) + 金 (money). A fundamental financial term. Can also be read もときん, though がんきん is more standard.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 元金返済 (principal repayment)
- 元金均等返済 (equal principal repayment)
- 元金を回収する (recoup the principal)
- 元金保証 (principal guarantee)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 元手 — capital, seed money (more colloquial, often for starting a business)
- 資本 — capital (broader economic term)
- 利息 — interest (the return on the principal, the counterpart concept)
- 元本 — principal (close synonym, slightly more formal/legal)