従量制(じゅうりょうせい)

じゅうりょうせい
noun
usage-based pricing; pay-per-use system
1. usage-based pricing; metered system; pay-per-use
A pricing or billing system where charges are based on the amount actually used or consumed, rather than a flat rate. Applied to utilities, data plans, shipping, and various services.
水道(すいどう)料金(りょうきん)は従量制(じゅうりょうせい)だ。
Water charges are usage-based.
このプランは従量制(じゅうりょうせい)なので、使(つか)った分(ぶん)だけ払(はら)えばいい。
This plan is pay-per-use, so you only pay for what you use.
定額制(ていがくせい)と従量制(じゅうりょうせい)のどちらが自分(じぶん)に合(あ)っているか、毎月(まいつき)の使用量(しようりょう)を確認(かくにん)してから決(き)めたほうがいい。
You should check your monthly usage before deciding whether a flat-rate or usage-based plan suits you better.

Composed of 従量(じゅうりょう) (according to quantity) and 制(せい) (system). The word 従量(じゅうりょう) literally means "following the amount" — charges scale with consumption.

This is an important practical term for living in Japan: utilities (water, gas, electricity), mobile phone plans, cloud computing services, and shipping all commonly use either 従量制(じゅうりょうせい) (usage-based) or 定額制(ていがくせい) (flat-rate) pricing.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 従量制(じゅうりょうせい)料金(りょうきん): usage-based charges
  • 従量制(じゅうりょうせい)プラン: pay-per-use plan
  • 従量(じゅうりょう)課金(かきん): metered billing
  • 従量制(じゅうりょうせい)と定額制(ていがくせい): usage-based vs. flat-rate

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 定額制(ていがくせい): flat-rate system — the opposite model, where a fixed fee covers unlimited use
  • 定額(ていがく): fixed amount; flat rate — the base term
  • サブスクリプション: subscription — flat-rate access model, loanword from English
general
Added 2026.5.1 1:31
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