元金(がんきん)

がんきん
noun
principal; capital; original amount
formalmoneybusiness
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(がんきん)を返済(へんさい)する。
To repay the principal.
利息(りそく)だけでなく元金(がんきん)も減(へ)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(とうし)した元金(がんきん)を回収(かいしゅう)するまでに三年(さんねん)かかった。
It took three years to recoup the original investment.

Composed of 元(がん) (original, base) + 金(きん) (money). A fundamental financial term. Can also be read もときん, though がんきん is more standard.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 元手(もとで) — capital, seed money (more colloquial, often for starting a business)
  • 資本(しほん) — capital (broader economic term)
  • 利息(りそく) — interest (the return on the principal, the counterpart concept)
  • 元本(がんぽん) — principal (close synonym, slightly more formal/legal)

Related Words

Compare: 資本(しほん) (capital)
Compare: 利息(りそく) (interest)
Compare: 元本(がんぽん) (principal)
general
Added 2026.3.30 4:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
20500/20604_gankin