掛(か)け金(きん)

かけきん
noun
premium; installment payment; stake; bet
finance
1. premium; installment payment
A regular payment made toward insurance, a savings plan, or an installment scheme.
I pay the insurance premium every month.
The premiums are high, so I want to switch to a different plan.
You should check the total annual premiums before signing the contract.
2. stake; wager; bet amount
The amount of money risked in a bet or gamble.
掛(か)け金(きん)を上(あ)げる。
Raise the bet.
掛(か)け金(きん)が大(おお)きいほどリスクも高(たか)い。
The larger the stake, the higher the risk.
I lost the entire bet and regretted it.

A compound of 掛(か)け (betting; installment) and 金(きん) (money). The two senses reflect different uses of 掛(か)ける: paying in installments or staking money on a gamble.

Sense 1 (insurance/installment payments) is the more common usage in everyday life. Japanese insurance discussions frequently use this term when comparing plans and costs.

Note: This word is distinct from 掛(か)け金(がね)/掛金(かけがね), which can also mean a latch or clasp (for doors). The reading かけきん specifically refers to money.

Common collocations

Similar words