Diese Seite in deiner Sprache
English فارسی العربية Español Français 日本語 한국어 Português 中文 हिन्दी
A1 noun #2,529 am häufigsten 11 Min. Lesezeit

賃金

chingin
Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps 賃金 in 30 Sekunden
Erklärung 賃金 in your Level:
At the A1 level, your goal is to understand the most basic concept of the word 賃金 (chingin). Simply put, 賃金 means 'wages' or 'money you get for working.' As a beginner, you might already know the word お金 (okane), which means money. 賃金 is a specific type of money. When you do a job, the boss gives you 賃金. At this stage, you do not need to worry about complex economic theories or legal definitions. Just remember that 賃金 is connected to working. If you see a sign for a part-time job (アルバイト - arubaito), you might see the word 賃金 next to a number, like '1000円'. This tells you how much money you will make for one hour of work. Practice saying the word out loud: chin-gin. Remember that the second part is 'gin', not 'kin'. Here are the most basic ways to think about it: - You work -> You get 賃金. - 賃金 is money from a job. - It is a formal word, so you will see it written down more often than you hear people say it in casual chats. Focus on recognizing the kanji 賃金 when you look at job advertisements or basic news headlines. You can pair it with simple verbs you already know, like もらう (to receive) or はらう (to pay). For example, '賃金をもらう' means 'to receive wages.' This basic understanding will build a strong foundation for when you encounter more complex uses of the word later in your Japanese learning journey.
At the A2 level, you can start using 賃金 (chingin) in slightly more detailed sentences and understand its use in everyday life contexts, particularly regarding part-time jobs and basic news. You should now understand that while 給料 (kyuuryou) is the word you use with your friends to talk about your salary, 賃金 is the word you will see on official papers, like a job contract or a poster looking for workers. A very important phrase to learn at this level is 最低賃金 (saitei chingin), which means 'minimum wage.' If you are living in Japan and looking for a part-time job at a convenience store or restaurant, the hourly pay will usually be based on the 最低賃金 of that specific city or prefecture. You can start combining 賃金 with adjectives to describe the pay. For example: - 高い賃金 (takai chingin) = high wages - 低い賃金 (hikui chingin) = low wages You can also use it to express your desires or reasons for doing something. For instance, '高い賃金が欲しいです' (I want high wages) or '賃金が低いから、アルバイトを辞めました' (I quit my part-time job because the wages were low). When reading simple news articles (like NHK Web Easy), you will frequently see 賃金 used when discussing the economy or workers. Recognizing this word will help you understand the main topic of these articles. Focus on reading the kanji correctly and understanding the basic sentence structures it appears in, such as '会社が賃金を払う' (The company pays wages).
Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung
At the B1 level, your understanding of 賃金 (chingin) should expand to include broader societal and economic contexts. You are no longer just talking about your own part-time job; you are discussing how wages affect people in general. You should be comfortable using 賃金 to discuss social issues, such as the wage gap or the need for wage increases. You will encounter terms like 賃金格差 (chingin kakusa - wage gap), which is often used when discussing the difference in pay between men and women, or between regular employees (正社員) and temporary workers (非正規社員). You should also learn the verbs most commonly associated with changes in wages. Instead of just using simple verbs, you will see: - 賃金が上がる (chingin ga agaru) - wages rise (intransitive) - 賃金を上げる (chingin o ageru) - to raise wages (transitive) - 賃金を引き上げる (chingin o hikiageru) - to increase wages (formal, often used for policies) At this intermediate level, you should be able to read and understand news articles about the annual spring wage negotiations in Japan, known as 春闘 (Shunto). You will understand sentences like, '労働組合は賃金の引き上げを求めている' (The labor union is demanding a wage increase). Furthermore, you should clearly distinguish between 賃金 (formal, objective wages) and 給料 (personal salary). If you are writing an essay or giving a presentation in your Japanese class about labor issues, you must use 賃金 to maintain the appropriate formal register. Using 給料 in an academic or formal business context would sound unnatural.
Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung
At the B2 level, you are expected to handle 賃金 (chingin) with a high degree of nuance and precision, particularly in business, economic, and news contexts. You should be able to read standard Japanese newspapers (like the Nikkei or Asahi Shimbun) and understand complex articles discussing labor economics. You need to understand the components of wages. For example, you should know terms like: - 基本賃金 (kihon chingin) - base wage - 割増賃金 (warimashi chingin) - premium/overtime wage - 平均賃金 (heikin chingin) - average wage You should be able to discuss the relationship between wages, inflation, and the cost of living. A crucial concept at this level is the difference between 名目賃金 (meimoku chingin - nominal wages, the actual amount of money) and 実質賃金 (jisshitsu chingin - real wages, adjusted for inflation). You should be able to comprehend and produce sentences like, '物価の上昇に賃金の引き上げが追いつかず、実質賃金は低下している' (Wage increases are not keeping up with rising prices, and real wages are declining). In a business context, if you are working in HR or management in Japan, you must use 賃金 correctly when drafting contracts, explaining company policies, or ensuring compliance with labor laws. You should understand that 賃金 is a legal term defined by the Labor Standards Act, and it encompasses all compensation paid for labor. Your listening skills should be sharp enough to follow political debates or economic news broadcasts where experts discuss 賃金水準 (wage levels) and structural reforms needed to boost the Japanese economy. You should be able to summarize these discussions accurately.
Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung
At the C1 level, your mastery of 賃金 (chingin) should be near-native, allowing you to engage in deep, analytical discussions about macroeconomics, labor law, and historical economic trends in Japan. You are not just understanding the word; you are using it to build complex arguments. You should be familiar with highly specialized vocabulary and idiomatic expressions related to wages. For example, you should understand concepts like 賃金下方硬直性 (chingin kahou kouchokusei - downward nominal wage rigidity), which explains why wages rarely fall even during economic downturns, or 年功序列型賃金 (nenkou joretsu gata chingin - seniority-based wage system), a traditional pillar of Japanese corporate culture. You should be able to read academic papers, government white papers (like the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's reports), and legal texts without difficulty. When reading the 労働基準法 (Labor Standards Act), you will understand the precise legal definitions and the strict rules regarding the payment of wages (賃金支払いの五原則 - the five principles of wage payment). In professional settings, you can confidently negotiate complex labor agreements, draft corporate compensation strategies, or write persuasive op-eds about economic policy. You understand the subtle rhetorical differences between demanding a 賃上げ (base wage increase) versus a temporary bonus. You can eloquently discuss how stagnant wages (賃金の停滞 - chingin no teitai) over the 'Lost Decades' have impacted Japanese society, birth rates, and consumer behavior, using sophisticated grammar and precise vocabulary.
Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung
At the C2 level, you possess a comprehensive, expert-level command of the term 賃金 (chingin) across all conceivable contexts—legal, historical, economic, and sociolinguistic. You understand the etymology of the kanji and how the concept of wage labor evolved in modern Japanese history. You can effortlessly navigate the most dense, bureaucratic Japanese. You understand the minutiae of labor dispute resolutions, Supreme Court rulings regarding unpaid overtime (未払い割増賃金 - mibarai warimashi chingin), and the complex formulas used to calculate average wages for worker's compensation (労災保険 - rousai hoken). You are capable of critiquing economic policies at a high academic level, discussing the intersection of monetary policy, fiscal stimulus, and wage growth dynamics. You can articulate the differences in wage structures between various industries, company sizes, and regions, citing statistical data and economic theories. Furthermore, you understand the sociolinguistic weight of the word. You know exactly when a politician is using 賃金 to sound authoritative, or when a labor activist is using it to invoke a sense of legal right and justice. You can manipulate the register of your Japanese flawlessly, switching from the highly technical jargon of an economist to the persuasive, accessible language needed to explain complex wage policies to the general public. At this level, 賃金 is not just a vocabulary word; it is a lens through which you can analyze and discuss the entire socio-economic structure of Japan.
Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung
Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

賃金 in 30 Sekunden

  • Formal term for wages or pay.
  • Used in news, law, and economics.
  • Not used for casual salary talk.
  • Combines kanji for 'fare' and 'money'.

The Japanese word 賃金 (ちんぎん - chingin) fundamentally refers to the money paid to a worker in exchange for their labor or services. In English, it is most directly translated as 'wages' or 'pay.' While beginners might first learn the word 給料 (kyuuryou) for salary, 賃金 is the formal, legal, and economic term used across Japan to discuss compensation. Understanding this word is absolutely crucial for anyone looking to work in Japan, read Japanese news, or understand the Japanese economy.

Kanji Breakdown: 賃 (Chin)
This kanji means 'fare,' 'fee,' 'hire,' 'rent,' or 'wages.' It implies a payment made in exchange for a service or the use of something. You will see it in words like 家賃 (yachin - rent) and 運賃 (unchin - fare).
Kanji Breakdown: 金 (Gin/Kin)
This kanji means 'gold' or 'money.' It is one of the most common kanji in the Japanese language, appearing in words like お金 (okane - money) and 料金 (ryoukin - fee).
Legal Definition
Under the Japanese Labor Standards Act (労働基準法), 賃金 is defined as any payment made by an employer to an employee as compensation for labor, regardless of whether it is called a wage, salary, allowance, or bonus.

Because of its formal nature, you will rarely hear friends asking each other about their 賃金 over drinks. Instead, it is the standard vocabulary used in news broadcasts, political debates, and official company documents. For instance, when the government announces an increase in the minimum wage, they use the term 最低賃金 (saitei chingin).

日本の最低賃金は毎年見直されます。

Japan's minimum wage is reviewed every year.

彼は高い賃金を求めて転職した。

He changed jobs in search of higher wages.

賃金の支払いは月に一回です。

Wage payments are made once a month.

男女の賃金格差をなくすべきだ。

We should eliminate the gender wage gap.

実質賃金が低下している。

Real wages are declining.

In summary, while it translates simply to 'wages,' the context in which 賃金 is used is highly specific to formal, legal, and economic environments. It encompasses all forms of financial compensation provided to a worker by an employer. By mastering this word, you unlock a deeper understanding of Japanese societal issues, labor rights, and economic news, making it an indispensable part of your vocabulary journey from intermediate to advanced levels.

Using 賃金 (chingin) correctly requires an understanding of its formal register. Unlike casual words for money or pay, 賃金 is almost exclusively reserved for objective, structural, or legal discussions about compensation. You will use this word when reading or writing about economics, negotiating formal labor contracts, or discussing societal trends. It is not the word you use to complain to your spouse that your paycheck was too small this month.

One of the most common ways to use 賃金 is in compound nouns. The Japanese language frequently combines kanji to create specific, nuanced terms, and 賃金 is a highly productive base for these compounds. For example, 基本賃金 (kihon chingin) refers to the base wage before any allowances or overtime are added. 割増賃金 (warimashi chingin) refers to premium wages, such as overtime pay, late-night work pay, or holiday pay. If you are working in Japan, understanding 割増賃金 is vital to ensure you are being compensated fairly for extra hours.

When discussing the economy, you will frequently use verbs like 上がる (agaru - to rise), 下がる (sagaru - to fall), 引き上げる (hikiageru - to raise), and 支払う (shiharau - to pay) in conjunction with 賃金. For instance, a newspaper headline might read: 「政府は最低賃金の引き上げを検討している」 (Seifu wa saitei chingin no hikiage o kentou shite iru - The government is considering raising the minimum wage). Here, the action of raising the wage is a formal policy decision, perfectly suiting the tone of 賃金.

In the context of labor unions and workers' rights, 賃金 is the central vocabulary word. During the annual spring wage offensive in Japan, known as 春闘 (Shunto), labor unions negotiate with management for 賃上げ (chin-age), which is an abbreviation of 賃金引き上げ (chingin hikiage - wage increase). You might hear workers demanding, 「適正な賃金を支払え！」 (Tekisei na chingin o shiharae! - Pay fair wages!). In these contexts, the word carries the weight of legal entitlement and collective bargaining.

It is also important to note how 賃金 is used in statistical and academic contexts. Economists differentiate between 名目賃金 (meimoku chingin - nominal wages), which is the raw amount of money paid, and 実質賃金 (jisshitsu chingin - real wages), which is the wage adjusted for inflation and the cost of living. A common topic of discussion in modern Japan is that while nominal wages might be rising slightly, real wages are falling due to inflation: 「物価上昇により、実質賃金がマイナスとなっている」 (Bukka joushou ni yori, jisshitsu chingin ga mainasu to natte iru).

To practice using 賃金, try incorporating it into formal essays or business discussions. If you are taking the JLPT N2 or N1, expect to see this word in reading comprehension passages about social issues, corporate structure, or government policy. Remember, the key to using 賃金 naturally is matching its formal, objective tone with the surrounding vocabulary and grammar.

You will encounter the word 賃金 (chingin) most frequently in environments that deal with formal information, rules, and societal structures. If your exposure to Japanese is limited to anime, manga, or casual conversations with friends, you might rarely hear this word. However, the moment you step into the adult world of working, reading the news, or dealing with bureaucracy in Japan, 賃金 becomes ubiquitous.

The primary place you will hear 賃金 is on television news programs (ニュース番組). NHK and other major broadcasting networks use this term daily when reporting on the economy. Segments discussing the national budget, inflation, labor shortages, or government policies will almost always feature the word 賃金. News anchors will discuss the 賃金水準 (chingin suijun - wage level) of different industries or compare Japan's wages to those of other developed nations. If you want to improve your advanced listening skills, tuning into Japanese economic news is a fantastic way to hear 賃金 used in natural, formal contexts.

Another critical location where this word appears is in employment contracts and workplace documents. When you are hired for a job in Japan, whether it is a part-time convenience store gig or a full-time corporate position, you will receive a document outlining your working conditions (労働条件通知書). This document will have a specific section dedicated to 賃金, detailing your base pay, how overtime is calculated, and the payment schedule. Understanding the terminology in this section is vital for protecting your rights as a worker.

You will also hear 賃金 during political campaigns and debates. Politicians frequently promise to improve the lives of citizens by enacting policies that lead to 賃上げ (wage increases). They will debate the appropriate level for the 最低賃金 (minimum wage) and discuss how to close the 賃金格差 (wage gap) between regular (正社員) and non-regular (非正規社員) employees. Listening to political speeches is a great way to hear the word used persuasively and passionately.

Finally, you will encounter this word in academic and legal settings. University lectures on economics, sociology, or law will use 賃金 extensively. Textbooks will define the legal parameters of wage payment, such as the principle that wages must be paid in cash, directly to the worker, in full, and at least once a month (賃金支払いの五原則). If you are studying for a degree in Japan or preparing for professional certifications like the Social Insurance and Labor and Social Security Attorney (社会保険労務士) exam, mastering the nuances of 賃金 and its related legal jargon is absolutely essential.

When learning the word 賃金 (chingin), Japanese learners frequently make mistakes related to register, nuance, and context. Because English often uses 'pay,' 'salary,' and 'wages' interchangeably in casual conversation, learners assume they can do the same in Japanese. However, Japanese is highly sensitive to the formality of the situation and the specific nature of the compensation.

The most common mistake is using 賃金 in casual conversation to refer to one's own salary. For example, a learner might say to a friend, 「私の賃金は低いです」(Watashi no chingin wa hikui desu - My wages are low). While grammatically correct, this sounds incredibly stiff, unnatural, and overly academic. It sounds as if you are reading from a government labor report about yourself. In casual conversation, you should use 給料 (kyuuryou). You would say, 「給料が安いんだよね」(Kyuuryou ga yasui n da yo ne - My pay is low, you know).

Another frequent error is confusing 賃金 with お小遣い (okozukai - allowance) or 報酬 (houshuu - reward/remuneration). 賃金 strictly refers to money paid by an employer to an employee under a labor contract. If you give your child money for doing chores, that is お小遣い, never 賃金. If you are a freelance graphic designer and a client pays you for a logo, that payment is technically 報酬 (remuneration for a specific task or project), not 賃金, because you are an independent contractor, not an employee under the Labor Standards Act. Using 賃金 for freelance work is a subtle but significant legal and linguistic mistake.

Learners also sometimes make pronunciation errors. The kanji 金 is usually read as 'kin' (as in お金 - okane, or 貯金 - chokin). However, in the word 賃金, it undergoes rendaku (sequential voicing) and becomes 'gin'. Pronouncing it as 'chinkin' is incorrect and will immediately mark you as a non-native speaker. It is crucial to memorize the voiced 'g' sound: chin-gin.

Finally, there is a tendency to misuse the verbs associated with 賃金. You do not 'make' a wage in the same way you make a product. You receive (もらう - morau / 受け取る - uketoru) wages, or you earn (稼ぐ - kasegu) them. Employers pay (支払う - shiharau) wages. Saying something like 「賃金を作る」(chingin o tsukuru - to make wages) is nonsensical in Japanese. Furthermore, when wages increase, they 上がる (agaru - rise), and when an employer raises them, they 引き上げる (hikiageru - raise). Using the wrong verb can completely change the meaning or render the sentence incomprehensible. Always learn nouns together with their common collocations (verbs and adjectives they naturally pair with).

The Japanese language has a rich vocabulary for discussing money, income, and compensation. Understanding the subtle differences between 賃金 (chingin) and its synonyms is a hallmark of advanced proficiency. While they all relate to getting paid, their usage depends heavily on the legal context, the type of employment, and the level of formality.

1. 給料 (きゅうりょう - Kyuuryou): This is the most common and versatile word for 'salary' or 'pay.' It is the word you use in everyday conversation. When you ask a friend about their job, or complain about your paycheck, you use 給料. While 賃金 is an objective, economic term, 給料 is personal and colloquial. Think of 給料 as 'my paycheck' and 賃金 as 'the concept of wages.'

2. 給与 (きゅうよ - Kyuuyo): This is a slightly more formal version of 給料. It is often used in corporate documents, tax forms, and official company policies. 給与 encompasses not just the base salary, but all allowances, bonuses, and non-monetary benefits provided by the employer. If you look at your pay slip in Japan, it will likely be titled 給与明細 (kyuuyo meisai - salary statement), not 賃金明細.

3. 報酬 (ほうしゅう - Houshuu): This translates to 'remuneration,' 'reward,' or 'fee.' Unlike 賃金, which implies an employer-employee relationship under labor laws, 報酬 is used for independent contractors, freelancers, executives, and professionals (like lawyers or doctors) who are paid for a specific service, project, or result. A company director receives 役員報酬 (yakuin houshuu - executive remuneration), not 賃金.

4. 収入 (しゅうにゅう - Shuunyuu): This simply means 'income' or 'revenue.' It is a broad term that includes all money coming in, regardless of the source. Your 収入 could include your 賃金 from your job, but it could also include money from investments, rental properties, or selling items online. It focuses on the inflow of money rather than the exchange of labor.

5. 所得 (しょとく - Shotoku): This is a highly technical, tax-related term meaning 'net income' or 'taxable income.' It is calculated by taking your total revenue (収入) and subtracting necessary expenses or deductions. When you file your taxes in Japan, you are calculating your 所得 to determine how much tax you owe. You will hear this word heavily during tax season (確定申告 - kakutei shinkoku).

6. 手取り (てどり - Tedori): This is a very practical, everyday word meaning 'take-home pay' or 'net pay.' It refers to the actual amount of money deposited into your bank account after taxes, pension, and health insurance have been deducted from your gross salary (額面 - gakumen). If a job advertisement lists a high salary, a savvy applicant will always calculate what the actual 手取り will be.

How Formal Is It?

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Wichtige Grammatik

Noun + が + Intransitive Verb (賃金が上がる - wages rise)

Noun + を + Transitive Verb (賃金を上げる - raise wages)

Passive Voice (賃金が支払われる - wages are paid)

Nominalization with の/こと (賃金を引き上げることが重要だ - It is important to raise wages)

Formal states with である (賃金の改善が急務である - Wage improvement is an urgent task)

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

これは私の賃金です。

This is my wage.

Noun + です (desu) for simple identification.

2

賃金をもらいます。

I receive wages.

Object particle を (o) + verb もらう (morau).

3

今日の賃金はいくらですか。

How much is today's wage?

Question word いくら (ikura - how much).

4

賃金は高いです。

The wages are high.

Adjective 高い (takai) describing the noun.

5

賃金は低いです。

The wages are low.

Adjective 低い (hikui) describing the noun.

6

アルバイトの賃金です。

It is the wage for the part-time job.

Noun + の (no) + Noun to show possession/association.

7

会社が賃金をはらいます。

The company pays the wages.

Subject particle が (ga) + object particle を (o).

8

新しい仕事の賃金です。

It is the wage for the new job.

Adjective 新しい (atarashii) modifying a noun phrase.

1

最低賃金が上がりました。

The minimum wage went up.

Past tense of verb 上がる (agaru -> agarimashita).

2

この仕事は賃金がいいです。

This job has good wages.

Topic marker は (wa) and subject marker が (ga) in the same sentence.

3

賃金が低いので、辞めたいです。

Because the wages are low, I want to quit.

Reason particle ので (node) + verb-たい (tai - want to).

4

毎月２５日に賃金が支払われます。

Wages are paid on the 25th of every month.

Passive form of 支払う (shiharau -> shiharawareru).

5

もっと高い賃金が欲しいです。

I want higher wages.

Adverb もっと (motto - more) + adjective + 欲しい (hoshii - want).

6

日本の賃金についてニュースで見ました。

I saw about Japan's wages on the news.

Particle について (ni tsuite - about/concerning).

7

アルバイトの賃金を計算します。

I will calculate the wages for the part-time job.

Noun + を (o) + verb 計算する (keisan suru).

8

賃金は銀行に振り込まれます。

Wages are transferred to the bank.

Direction particle に (ni) + passive verb 振り込まれる (furikomareru).

1

政府は最低賃金の引き上げを決定した。

The government decided to raise the minimum wage.

Noun modification with の (no) and formal verb 決定する (kettei suru).

2

男女間の賃金格差が社会問題になっている。

The wage gap between men and women has become a social problem.

Noun + になる (ni naru - to become) indicating a change in state.

3

労働組合は賃上げを要求してストライキを行った。

The labor union demanded a wage increase and went on strike.

Te-form 要求して (youkyuu shite) connecting sequential actions.

4

残業代などの割増賃金が正しく支払われていない。

Premium wages, such as overtime pay, are not being paid correctly.

Passive negative continuous form 支払われていない (shiharawarete inai).

5

物価が上がっているのに、賃金はそのままです。

Even though prices are rising, wages remain the same.

Conjunction のに (noni - even though/despite).

6

企業は優秀な人材を確保するために賃金水準を上げている。

Companies are raising wage levels to secure excellent talent.

Purpose clause ために (tame ni - in order to).

7

契約書で賃金の支払い条件をよく確認してください。

Please carefully check the wage payment conditions in the contract.

Request form てください (te kudasai) with action verb 確認する.

8

非正規雇用の賃金改善が急務である。

Improving the wages of non-regular employees is an urgent task.

Formal copula である (de aru) used in written/formal contexts.

1

実質賃金が連続してマイナスとなり、消費者の購買力が低下している。

Real wages have been negative consecutively, and consumer purchasing power is declining.

Te-form 連続して (renzoku shite) and formal conjunction となり (to nari).

2

同一労働同一賃金の原則が法律で定められました。

The principle of equal pay for equal work was established by law.

Passive form 定められました (sadameraremashita) indicating an established rule.

3

業績悪化に伴い、基本賃金のカットが提案された。

Along with the deterioration of business performance, a cut in base wages was proposed.

Grammar pattern に伴い (ni tomonai - along with / as a consequence of).

4

最低賃金法違反で、その企業は労働基準監督署から是正勧告を受けた。

The company received a correction recommendation from the Labor Standards Inspection Office for violating the Minimum Wage Act.

Cause/reason particle で (de) indicating the reason for the action.

5

インフレ率を上回る賃上げが実現できるかどうかが焦点だ。

The focus is on whether a wage increase exceeding the inflation rate can be realized.

Embedded question かどうか (ka dou ka - whether or not).

6

年功序列型の賃金体系から成果主義へと移行する企業が増えている。

An increasing number of companies are shifting from a seniority-based wage system to a performance-based one.

Directional particle へと (he to) emphasizing the transition.

7

労働者の生活を保障するため、最低賃金の大幅な引き上げが不可欠である。

A significant increase in the minimum wage is essential to guarantee the livelihood of workers.

Formal adjective 不可欠である (fukaketsu de aru - is essential).

8

賃金台帳の保存期間は労働基準法により規定されている。

The retention period for wage ledgers is stipulated by the Labor Standards Act.

Passive construction with により (ni yori - by means of / according to).

1

名目賃金は上昇傾向にあるものの、物価高騰により実質賃金は目減りしているのが現状だ。

Although nominal wages are on an upward trend, the current reality is that real wages are shrinking due to soaring prices.

Concessive conjunction ものの (mono no - although) and nominalizer の (no).

2

春闘におけるベースアップ（ベア）の獲得は、日本経済のデフレ脱却に向けた試金石となる。

Securing a base wage increase (base-up) in the spring wage offensive will be a touchstone for the Japanese economy's escape from deflation.

Formal particle における (ni okeru - in / at) and idiom 試金石となる (shikinseki to naru).

3

最低賃金の地域間格差が、地方から都市部への若年労働力の流出を加速させている一因と指摘されている。

It is pointed out that the regional disparity in minimum wages is one factor accelerating the outflow of young labor from rural areas to urban centers.

Causative form 加速させている (kasoku sasete iru) and passive reporting 指摘されている (shiteki sarete iru).

4

企業側は、固定費の増大を懸念し、基本賃金の引き上げよりも一時金（ボーナス）での還元を好む傾向がある。

Companies, concerned about the increase in fixed costs, tend to prefer giving back through lump-sum payments (bonuses) rather than raising base wages.

Comparison よりも (yori mo - rather than) and tendency 傾向がある (keikou ga aru).

5

労働分配率の低下は、企業が創出した付加価値が十分に賃金として労働者に還元されていないことを示唆している。

The decline in the labor share suggests that the added value created by companies is not being sufficiently returned to workers as wages.

Formal verb 示唆している (shisa shite iru - suggests/implies) with nominalized clause こと (koto).

6

未払い残業代などの賃金債権の消滅時効が、法改正により延長されたことは労働者にとって朗報である。

The extension of the statute of limitations for wage claims, such as unpaid overtime, due to a legal revision is good news for workers.

Complex noun phrase acting as the subject, ending with 朗報である (rouhou de aru).

7

ジョブ型雇用への転換に伴い、職務記述書（ジョブディスクリプション）に基づいた客観的な賃金決定プロセスが求められている。

With the shift to job-based employment, an objective wage determination process based on job descriptions is required.

Grammar pattern に基づいた (ni motozuita - based on) and passive 求められている (motomerarete iru).

8

最低賃金審議会での労使の対立は激化しており、妥協点の模索が難航している。

The conflict between labor and management at the Minimum Wage Council is intensifying, and the search for a compromise is facing difficulties.

Continuous state 激化しており (gekika shite ori) and formal verb 難航している (nankou shite iru).

1

労働基準法第11条において、賃金とは、賃金、給料、手当、賞与その他名称の如何を問わず、労働の対償として使用者が労働者に支払うすべてのものをいうと定義されている。

Article 11 of the Labor Standards Act defines wages as any payment, regardless of whether it is called a wage, salary, allowance, bonus, or any other name, paid by an employer to a worker as compensation for labor.

Highly formal legal definition structure: 〜とは、〜をいうと定義されている (to wa, ~ o iu to teigi sarete iru).

2

マクロ経済学的な視点に立てば、賃金の下方硬直性がデフレスパイラルを一定程度食い止める防波堤として機能した側面は否めない。

From a macroeconomic perspective, it cannot be denied that the downward rigidity of wages functioned as a breakwater to stem the deflationary spiral to a certain extent.

Academic phrasing 視点に立てば (shiten ni tateba - from the perspective of) and 側面は否めない (sokumen wa inamenai - the aspect cannot be denied).

3

休業手当は、使用者の責に帰すべき事由による休業の場合に支払われるものであり、平均賃金の100分の60以上でなければならないと法定されている。

It is legally stipulated that a leave allowance is paid in the event of a leave of absence due to reasons attributable to the employer, and it must be at least 60/100 of the average wage.

Legal terminology 責に帰すべき事由 (seki ni kisubeki jiyuu - reasons attributable to) and obligation でなければならない (de nakereba naranai).

4

内部留保の過度な蓄積を批判し、それを原資とした積極的な賃上げを促す政策誘導が、現政権の最重要課題として位置づけられている。

Criticizing the excessive accumulation of retained earnings and promoting policy guidance that encourages aggressive wage increases using those funds as a source is positioned as the most important issue of the current administration.

Complex sentence with multiple clauses, ending in passive 位置づけられている (ichizukerarete iru - is positioned as).

5

最低賃金の引き上げが雇用喪失を招くという古典的な経済モデルの予測は、近年の実証研究によって必ずしも支持されていないという見解が有力になりつつある。

The view is gaining traction that the prediction of classical economic models, which states that raising the minimum wage leads to job losses, is not necessarily supported by recent empirical research.

Academic reporting 予測は〜支持されていないという見解が有力になりつつある (the view that the prediction is not supported is becoming influential).

6

労働協約において定められた賃金基準に達しない労働契約の該当部分は無効となり、無効となった部分は労働協約の基準の定めるところによる。

The portion of a labor contract that does not meet the wage standards stipulated in a collective agreement becomes invalid, and the invalidated portion is governed by the standards of the collective agreement.

Legal conditional and consequence structure: 〜部分は無効となり、〜ところによる (the portion becomes invalid, and depends on...).

7

歩合給制を採用している場合であっても、労働時間に応じた一定額の賃金の保障が労働基準法上義務付けられており、完全な出来高払いは認められない。

Even when a commission-based pay system is adopted, the guarantee of a certain amount of wages according to working hours is mandated under the Labor Standards Act, and a pure piece-rate system is not permitted.

Concessive clause であっても (de atte mo - even if) and legal prohibition 認められない (mitomerarenai - is not permitted).

8

賃金債権の優先特権は、企業の倒産時において労働者の生活基盤を保護するための重要な法的セーフティネットとして機能する。

The preferential right of wage claims functions as an important legal safety net to protect the livelihood foundation of workers in the event of corporate bankruptcy.

Formal vocabulary 優先特権 (yuusen tokken - preferential right) and 機能する (kinou suru - functions as).

Häufige Kollokationen

最低賃金 (saitei chingin - minimum wage)
実質賃金 (jisshitsu chingin - real wage)
名目賃金 (meimoku chingin - nominal wage)
基本賃金 (kihon chingin - base wage)
割増賃金 (warimashi chingin - premium/overtime wage)
賃金格差 (chingin kakusa - wage gap)
賃金水準 (chingin suijun - wage level)
賃金を引き上げる (chingin o hikiageru - to raise wages)
賃金が上がる (chingin ga agaru - wages rise)
賃金を支払う (chingin o shiharau - to pay wages)

Häufige Phrasen

最低賃金法 (saitei chingin hou - Minimum Wage Law)
同一労働同一賃金 (douitsu roudou douitsu chingin - equal pay for equal work)
賃金不払い (chingin mibarai - unpaid wages)
賃金台帳 (chingin daichou - wage ledger)
賃金カット (chingin katto - wage cut)
賃金カーブ (chingin kaabu - wage curve)
賃金体系 (chingin taikei - wage system)
賃金交渉 (chingin koushou - wage negotiation)
賃上げ (chin-age - wage increase)
賃下げ (chin-sage - wage decrease)

Wird oft verwechselt mit

賃金 vs 給料 (kyuuryou - salary): Used for personal, everyday talk about one's paycheck.

賃金 vs 報酬 (houshuu - remuneration): Used for freelancers, executives, or specific task rewards, not standard employment.

賃金 vs 所得 (shotoku - income): Used primarily in tax contexts to mean net taxable income.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"血の滲むような賃金 (chi no nijimu you na chingin - blood-sweat-and-tears wages / hard-earned money)"
"雀の涙ほどの賃金 (suzume no namida hodo no chingin - wages as small as a sparrow's tear / a pittance)"
"賃金奴隷 (chingin dorei - wage slave)"
"賃金泥棒 (chingin dorobou - wage thief / someone who gets paid but doesn't work)"
"高賃金高福祉 (kou chingin kou fukushi - high wages, high welfare)"
"低賃金重労働 (tei chingin juu roudou - low wages, heavy labor)"
"賃金と物価の悪循環 (chingin to bukka no akujunkan - wage-price spiral)"
"賃金下方硬直性 (chingin kahou kouchokusei - downward wage rigidity)"
"年功序列賃金 (nenkou joretsu chingin - seniority-based wages)"
"成果主義賃金 (seika shugi chingin - performance-based wages)"

Leicht verwechselbar

賃金 vs

賃金 vs

賃金 vs

賃金 vs

賃金 vs

Satzmuster

Registriere dich kostenlos, um alle Beispiele zu sehen

So verwendest du es

nuance

賃金 carries a heavy, objective, and legal nuance. It depersonalizes the concept of income, turning it into a metric or a right.

legal usage

Extremely strict. The Labor Standards Act explicitly defines what constitutes 賃金 to prevent employers from avoiding overtime pay calculations by calling compensation a 'gift' or 'allowance'.

colloquial usage

Almost non-existent. Using it colloquially is a marked choice, usually done for comedic effect or to sound deliberately bureaucratic.

Häufige Fehler
  • Using 賃金 instead of 給料 in casual conversations with friends.
  • Pronouncing the word as 'chin-kin' instead of the correct 'chin-gin'.
  • Using 賃金 to describe the money earned from freelance or independent contract work (which should be 報酬).
  • Using the verb 作る (tsukuru - to make) with 賃金, instead of もらう (morau - receive) or 稼ぐ (kasegu - earn).
  • Confusing 賃金 (wages) with 家賃 (yachin - rent) because they share the same first kanji.

Tipps

Formal Contexts Only

Always reserve 賃金 for formal writing, news discussions, or legal contexts. Do not use it to complain about your own paycheck to your friends. Using it in casual conversation sounds incredibly unnatural. Stick to 給料 for daily chats.

Mind the Rendaku

Remember to voice the 'k' in 金 to a 'g'. The pronunciation is chin-gin. Saying chin-kin is a dead giveaway that you are a learner. Practice saying it out loud several times to build muscle memory.

Job Hunting Essential

If you are looking for a part-time job in Japan, memorize the phrase 最低賃金 (saitei chingin - minimum wage). Always check the job listing to ensure they are paying at least the legal minimum for your prefecture. It is a crucial word for protecting your rights.

Verbs of Change

Learn the difference between 賃金が上がる (wages rise - intransitive) and 賃金を引き上げる (to raise wages - transitive). Use the former for general economic trends. Use the latter when discussing a company's or government's specific policy action.

News Keyword

When reading NHK Web Easy or standard newspapers, look for 賃金 as a keyword in economic articles. It is often the central topic of articles discussing inflation, government policy, or the annual Shunto negotiations.

Legal Weight

Understand that 賃金 is a legally defined term in Japan. It includes base pay, overtime, and bonuses. If an employer tries to call your pay a 'gift' to avoid taxes or overtime rules, the law will still classify it as 賃金.

Learn in Chunks

Don't just learn the word alone; learn its collocations. Memorize phrases like 賃金を支払う (pay wages) and 賃金格差 (wage gap). Learning words in chunks makes you sound much more fluent and natural.

The Shunto Phenomenon

Familiarize yourself with the term 春闘 (Shunto - Spring Wage Offensive). Understanding this cultural and economic event will give you massive context for why 賃金 is discussed so heavily in the Japanese media every spring.

Nominal vs. Real

For JLPT N1/N2 learners, mastering the distinction between 名目賃金 (nominal wages) and 実質賃金 (real wages) is mandatory. These terms appear frequently in reading comprehension passages about the Japanese economy.

Not for Freelancers

If you are a freelancer, do not refer to your income as 賃金. You are receiving 報酬 (houshuu - remuneration). 賃金 strictly implies you are an employee protected by the Labor Standards Act.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine you rest your CHIN on a bar of gold (GIN) because your WAGES are so high.

Wortherkunft

Sino-Japanese (Kango)

Kultureller Kontext

The Spring Wage Offensive (春闘) is an annual event in Japan where enterprise unions negotiate wage increases. It is a highly ritualized process.

Historically, Japanese wages were based on seniority (年功序列), meaning pay increased automatically with age and years of service, rather than performance.

Minimum wages in Japan are set by prefecture, not nationally. Tokyo always has the highest minimum wage, while rural prefectures have lower rates.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gesprächseinstiege

"最近のニュースで、最低賃金が上がると言っていましたね。(I heard on the recent news that the minimum wage is going up.)"

"日本の賃金水準についてどう思いますか。(What do you think about Japan's wage levels?)"

"実質賃金が下がっているのが心配です。(I'm worried that real wages are falling.)"

"あなたの国の最低賃金はいくらですか。(How much is the minimum wage in your country?)"

"同一労働同一賃金は実現できると思いますか。(Do you think equal pay for equal work can be realized?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Write about the difference between nominal wages and real wages in your own words.

Do you think the minimum wage in your city is high enough? Why or why not? Use the word 最低賃金.

Describe the traditional Japanese seniority-based wage system (年功序列) and your opinion on it.

Write a short news report about a fictional company raising its wages.

Reflect on a time you negotiated your pay. How would you describe that situation using formal Japanese?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, you should not use 賃金 in this context. It sounds far too formal and robotic, like a tax auditor asking a question. Instead, you should use the word 給料 (kyuuryou). For example, you could ask, '給料はいいの？' (Is the pay good?). Save 賃金 for reading the news or writing formal essays.

給料 (kyuuryou) is the everyday, conversational word for salary or pay. It is what you receive in your bank account. 賃金 (chingin) is the formal, legal, and economic term for wages. You use 賃金 when discussing labor laws, minimum wage, or macroeconomic trends. Think of 給料 as 'my paycheck' and 賃金 as 'the concept of wages'.

The second kanji, 金, is pronounced as 'gin' in this word. This is due to a phonetic rule in Japanese called rendaku, where the first consonant of the second kanji becomes voiced. Therefore, it is pronounced 'chin-gin', not 'chin-kin'. Pronouncing it with a 'k' is a common mistake for learners.

最低賃金 (saitei chingin) means 'minimum wage'. It is a very common phrase in Japan, especially if you are looking for a part-time job (アルバイト). The minimum wage in Japan is set by each prefecture, so it varies depending on where you live. Tokyo currently has the highest 最低賃金 in the country.

Yes, under Japanese labor law, a bonus (賞与 - shouyo) is legally considered a form of 賃金. The Labor Standards Act defines 賃金 as any compensation paid by an employer to a worker for their labor. Therefore, base pay, overtime pay, and bonuses all fall under the umbrella term of 賃金.

Shunto (春闘), or the Spring Wage Offensive, is an annual event in Japan where labor unions negotiate with corporate management for wage increases. It usually takes place between February and March. The results of these negotiations dictate the 賃上げ (wage increases) for millions of workers and are heavily covered by the news.

名目賃金 (meimoku chingin) refers to nominal wages, which is the actual amount of money printed on your paycheck. 実質賃金 (jisshitsu chingin) refers to real wages, which is your nominal wage adjusted for inflation and the cost of living. If your nominal wage goes up by 2%, but inflation is 3%, your real wage has actually decreased.

Technically, no. 賃金 implies an employer-employee relationship governed by the Labor Standards Act. If you are a freelancer or independent contractor, the money you receive for a project is called 報酬 (houshuu - remuneration or fee). Using 賃金 for freelance work is legally inaccurate in Japanese.

When wages go up naturally or in a general sense, use 上がる (agaru). When an employer or government actively raises them, use 引き上げる (hikiageru). When an employer pays wages, use 支払う (shiharau). When a worker receives wages, use もらう (morau) or 受け取る (uketoru).

Japan experienced decades of stagnant wages, known as the 'Lost Decades'. Recently, global inflation has caused the cost of living to rise significantly in Japan. Because wages had not risen to match inflation, increasing 賃金 has become the top priority for the government and labor unions, making it a daily news topic.

Registriere dich kostenlos für Tipps & Notizen

Teste dich selbst 180 Fragen

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

Registriere dich kostenlos zum Üben

Verwandte Inhalte

War das hilfreich?

Kommentare (0)

Zum Kommentieren Anmelden
Noch keine Kommentare. Sei der Erste, der seine Gedanken teilt!