(てつけきん)

てつけきん
noun
deposit; down payment securing a contract
businessfinance
1. deposit; earnest money securing a contract
Money paid by the buyer when a contract is concluded, confirming the agreement before the full price is paid. Common in real estate and large purchases; the buyer typically forfeits it if they back out, while the seller may owe double if they cancel.
契約時(けいやくじ)手付金(てつけきん)(はら)った
I paid a deposit when signing the contract.
A deposit of ten percent of the property price is the going rate.
()(ぬし)都合(つごう)解約(かいやく)する手付金(てつけきん)(かえ)ってこない。
If the buyer cancels for their own reasons, the deposit is not refunded.

Compound of 手付(てつけ) (earnest, deposit) + (きん) (money). Most often encountered in real-estate transactions.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 頭金(あたまきん): down payment — the first installment toward the price; reduces the balance owed
  • 内金(うちきん): part payment — money applied to the price, without the contract-securing function of 手付金(てつけきん)