先払(さきばら)い

さきばらい
noun
advance payment; prepayment; payment in advance
1. advance payment; prepayment; payment in advance
Paying for goods or services before they are delivered or rendered. A common payment arrangement in Japanese commerce and daily life.
この店(みせ)は先払(さきばら)いです。
This shop requires advance payment.
家賃(やちん)は毎月(まいつき)先払(さきばら)いで支払(しはら)う。
Rent is paid in advance each month.
ネットショッピングでは先払(さきばら)いと後払(あとばら)いのどちらかを選(えら)べることが多(おお)い。
When shopping online, you can often choose between advance payment and pay-later options.

Common in restaurants (especially ramen shops and fast-food), vending machine purchases, and online shopping. Many Japanese restaurants use ticket machines (食券(しょっけん)機(き)) that operate on a 先払(さきばら)い system.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 先払(さきばら)い制(せい): prepayment system
  • 先払(さきばら)いで: by advance payment
  • 料金(りょうきん)先払(さきばら)い: prepaid fee
  • 先払(さきばら)いチャージ: prepaid charge

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 後払(あとばら)い: deferred payment; pay later — the opposite; paying after receiving goods or services
  • 前払(まえばら)い: prepayment — very similar; 前払(まえばら)い is more common in accounting and formal business contexts
  • 代金引換(だいきんひきかえ): cash on delivery (COD) — paying at the time of delivery
general
Added 2026.5.6 1:18
26500/26930_sakibarai