(ごせんえんさつ)

ごせんえんさつ
noun
five-thousand-yen bill
1. five-thousand-yen bill; five-thousand-yen note
A Japanese banknote with a face value of 5,000 yen. One of the standard denominations of Japanese paper currency.
五千円札(ごせんえんさつ)(はら)ってもいいですか。
Can I pay with a five-thousand-yen bill?
財布(さいふ)五千円札(ごせんえんさつ)一枚(いちまい)(はい)っている。
There is one five-thousand-yen bill in my wallet.
(あたら)しい五千円札(ごせんえんさつ)のデザインには津田梅子(つだうめこ)肖像(しょうぞう)使(つか)われている。
The new five-thousand-yen bill features a portrait of Tsuda Umeko.

The 五千円札(ごせんえんさつ) is one of four denominations of Japanese banknotes. As of 2024, the bill features 津田梅子(つだうめこ), a pioneer in women's education in Japan. The previous design (2004-2024) featured 樋口一葉(ひぐちいちよう), a Meiji-era novelist.

JAPANESE BANKNOTE DENOMINATIONS:

  • 千円札(せんえんさつ): 1,000 yen bill
  • 五千円札(ごせんえんさつ): 5,000 yen bill
  • 一万円札(いちまんえんさつ): 10,000 yen bill

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 五千円札(ごせんえんさつ)(はら)う: to pay with a 5,000-yen bill
  • 五千円札(ごせんえんさつ)(くず)す: to break a 5,000-yen bill (into smaller bills/coins)
  • 五千円札(ごせんえんさつ)両替(りょうがえ)する: to exchange for a 5,000-yen bill

CULTURAL NOTE:
In daily life, the 五千円札(ごせんえんさつ) is commonly used for mid-range purchases. When giving money as a gift (ご祝儀(ごしゅうぎ)), odd numbers of bills are preferred, making this denomination useful.