1.
fee; bill; charge for a service or item
Suffix attached to nouns to indicate the cost, fee, or bill associated with that thing or service.
電気代が高い。
The electricity bill is high.
今月の暖房代を払った。
I paid this month's heating bill.
食事代はこちらで持たせていただきます。
Please let us pay for the meal.
Suffix attached to a noun to form the word for the bill or fee for that thing. Distinct from 〜料 (fee, charge) which is more formal and 〜費 (expense) which typically refers to a category of expenses.
COMMON COMPOUNDS:
- 電気代: electricity bill
- ガス代: gas bill
- 水道代: water bill
- 飲み代: drinking tab; bar bill
- タクシー代: taxi fare
- 部屋代: room charge
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 〜料: fee; charge — more formal; used for fixed institutional fees (授業料 tuition)
- 〜費: expense — refers to a category of spending (生活費 living expenses)
- 〜賃: fare; rent — used for transport fares and rent (家賃 rent)