釣(つ)り銭(せん)

つりせん
noun
change; small change given back
formalmoneybusiness
1. change; small change returned to a customer
The money given back to a customer when they pay more than the amount owed. A formal alternative to the everyday お釣(つ)り, commonly seen on receipts, signs, and in business contexts.
釣(つ)り銭(せん)を受(う)け取(と)った。
I received my change.
「釣(つ)り銭(せん)のないようにお願(ねが)いします」と書(か)いてあった。
It said, 'Please pay the exact amount (no change required).'
The vending machine broke down and didn't give back any change.

Compound of 釣(つ)り (from 釣(つ)る, originally a verb of pulling) + 銭(せん) (small money). The everyday spoken word for the same thing is お釣(つ)り; 釣(つ)り銭(せん) appears more on signs, receipts, and in formal speech.

Common collocations

  • 釣(つ)り銭(せん)を渡(わた)す: to hand over the change
  • 釣(つ)り銭(せん)を切(き)らす: to run out of change
  • 釣(つ)り銭(せん)のないように: please pay the exact amount
  • 釣(つ)り銭(せん)機(き): change machine

Similar words