1.
cash voucher; gift certificate; monetary ticket
A ticket or voucher with monetary value that can be used in place of cash. Includes gift cards, department store vouchers, beer tickets, and other prepaid instruments.
Gift certificates and other cash vouchers are sometimes given as celebratory gifts.
Composed of 金 (money, gold) + 券 (ticket, voucher). A general term for any voucher, ticket, or certificate that has monetary value and can be exchanged for goods or services.
Common collocations
- 金券ショップ (discount ticket shop)
- 金券を贈る (to give a cash voucher as a gift)
- 金券を換金する (to convert a voucher to cash)
- 金券類 (cash vouchers and the like)
Similar words
- 商品券 — gift certificate; specifically for purchasing merchandise at a particular store or chain
- 図書券 — book voucher; specifically for buying books (now replaced by 図書カード)
- 回数券 — multi-ride ticket; a book of tickets for repeated use
Cultural note
金券ショップ (discount ticket shops) are a distinctive feature of Japanese cities, especially near train stations. They buy and sell various vouchers, train tickets, stamps, and gift certificates at a small discount. Travelers often use them to save money on 新幹線 tickets and other transportation.