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.
契約時に手付金を払った。
I paid a deposit when signing the contract.
手付金は物件価格の一割が相場だ。
A deposit of ten percent of the property price is the going rate.
買い主の都合で解約すると、手付金は返ってこない。
If the buyer cancels for their own reasons, the deposit is not refunded.
Compound of 手付 (earnest, deposit) + 金 (money). Most often encountered in real-estate transactions.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 手付金を打つ: to put down a deposit
- 手付金を放棄する: to forfeit the deposit
- 手付金の返還: refund of the deposit
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 頭金: down payment — the first installment toward the price; reduces the balance owed
- 内金: part payment — money applied to the price, without the contract-securing function of 手付金