おろす

The Japanese verb おろす (orosu), specifically in the context of finance, means to withdraw money from a bank account or an ATM. While the word has several homonyms and meanings—such as 'to lower' (下ろす), 'to grate' (卸す), or 'to unload' (降ろす)—in the daily life of a Japanese speaker, it is most frequently used when one needs cash. Japan remains a relatively cash-heavy society compared to many Western nations, making the act of 'orosu' a central part of one's weekly routine. Whether you are visiting a convenience store ATM at 2:00 AM or standing in line at a major bank branch like MUFG or SMBC, you are performing the action of 'okane o orosu' (withdrawing money).

Core Concept

The physical or digital act of moving funds from a stored state in a financial institution to a liquid state in your wallet.

Understanding the nuance of 'orosu' requires looking at the kanji often associated with it in this context: 下ろす. The character for 'down' or 'below' (下) suggests the action of bringing something down from a secure, elevated place—historically, perhaps a shelf or a safe—into the hands of the user. In modern times, this 'elevated place' is your digital bank balance. Interestingly, while 'hikidasu' (引き出す) is a more formal synonym often used in banking documents, 'orosu' is the undisputed king of casual and semi-formal conversation. If you are out with friends and realize you don't have enough cash for dinner, 'orosu' is the word you will use to explain your quick trip to the 7-Eleven ATM.

Cultural Context

In Japan, withdrawing money often involves fees (tesuryo) that change depending on the time of day and the day of the week. Withdrawing money ('orosu') on a Sunday evening might cost you 220 yen more than on a Tuesday morning.

Beyond just cash, 'orosu' can occasionally be heard in very specific contexts like 'chochiku o orosu' (to dip into savings), though 'kuzusu' (to break into) is also common there. However, for 99% of learners, 'orosu' should be firmly linked to the physical act of getting bills from a machine. It is a transitive verb, meaning it takes the object particle 'o' (を). You 'orosu' the 'money' (okane). If you go to the bank but don't specify what you are doing, you might just say 'okane o oroshi ni iku' (I am going to withdraw money). This phrase is a staple of Japanese survival communication.

Common Collocations

ATMでおろす (Withdraw at an ATM), 銀行でおろす (Withdraw at a bank), 1万円おろす (Withdraw 10,000 yen).

Using おろす correctly involves understanding its grammar as a Godan verb (Group 1). The stem is 'oroshi', and it conjugates following the standard pattern for verbs ending in '-su'. For instance, the polite form is 'oroshimasu', the past tense is 'oroshita', and the negative form is 'oroshanai'. When you want to express the purpose of going somewhere, you use the 'stem + ni iku' structure: 'okane o oroshi ni iku' (go to withdraw money). This is perhaps the most common way a learner will use the word in a sentence.

Grammar Structure

[Person] wa [Source] de [Amount] o orosu. (Person withdraws [Amount] at [Source].)

It is important to note the particles. The place where you withdraw money is marked with 'de' (で), indicating the location of the action. The money itself is the object, marked with 'o' (を). If you are mentioning the specific account, you might use 'kouza kara' (from the account). For example, 'kouza kara okane o orosu' means 'to withdraw money from an account'. In many cases, Japanese speakers omit the subject (I/you/he) and even the object (money) if it is clear from the context. If you stand in front of an ATM and say 'oroshite kuru', everyone knows you are withdrawing money.

Common Variations

おろしたい (Want to withdraw), おろさない (Don't withdraw), おろせる (Can withdraw), おろされる (Is withdrawn - passive).

In more complex sentences, you might use 'orosu' with auxiliary verbs. 'Oroshite oku' implies withdrawing money in advance for a future need. 'Oroshite shimau' might suggest you withdrew money but spent it all (with a sense of regret). For learners at the A2 level, focusing on the simple past 'oroshita' and the 'te-form' for requests 'oroshite kudasai' (though you rarely ask someone else to withdraw money for you unless it's a very close family member) or sequences 'oroshite kara kaimono ni iku' (withdraw money and then go shopping) is the best strategy. The verb is versatile and fits into most standard Japanese sentence patterns without special exceptions.

Sentence Flow

財布が空っぽだから、お金をおろさないといけない。(My wallet is empty, so I have to withdraw money.)

You will encounter おろす in a variety of real-world situations in Japan. The most common place is undoubtedly near ATMs. If you are with a group of friends and the bill comes, and someone says, 'A, genkin ga nai!' (Ah, I don't have cash!), the immediate follow-up is often 'Chotto soko no konbini de oroshite kuru' (I'll go withdraw some at the convenience store over there). It is a word of necessity and utility. In Japanese television dramas, you might hear a character talking about 'yokin o orosu' (withdrawing deposits) to pay for a large expense like a car or a medical bill. It carries a sense of mobilizing one's resources.

Location: Convenience Stores

7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart are the 'orosu' hubs of Japan. You'll hear people discussing which ATM allows them to 'orosu' without fees at certain hours.

In a professional or banking environment, the word might shift slightly. While you use 'orosu' with your colleagues ('Kyoshitsu no hi o oroshi ni ikimasu' - I'm going to withdraw money for the classroom fee), the bank teller will use the noun 'o-hikidashi'. However, if you are calling your bank's customer service because an ATM swallowed your card while you were trying to 'orosu', you can use the verb 'orosu' to describe your action. It is also common in family settings. A parent might ask a child, 'Otoshidama, ginko ni azukeru? Sore tomo orosu?' (Do you want to deposit your New Year's money in the bank? Or withdraw it?).

Daily Life Scenario

At the office, before a 'nomikai' (drinking party), coworkers might check if everyone has enough cash. 'Kane, oroshita?' (Did you withdraw money?) is a common casual check-in.

Interestingly, you might also hear this word in the context of 'new clothes'. 'Atarashii fuku o orosu' means to wear new clothes for the first time. This usage stems from the same idea of 'bringing something out' for use. While our focus is money, being aware of this 'first use' meaning will help you understand why your Japanese friend says they 'oroshita' their new shoes. However, in the context of an ATM or a bank, it always refers to money. The word is deeply embedded in the 'cash is king' culture of Japan, where even in the era of PayPay and Suica, having physical bills is often a necessity for small shops and traditional festivals.

Usage Frequency

Extremely high. It is one of the top 500 verbs used in daily Japanese life due to the frequency of cash transactions.

The most common mistake learners make with おろす is confusing it with its many homonyms. Because 'orosu' can mean 'to grate' (like grating ginger), 'to unload' (like unloading a truck), or 'to lower' (like lowering a flag), context is vital. If you say 'daikon o orosu', you are grating a radish, not withdrawing money from it! Beginners often worry about which kanji to use. While '下ろす' is standard for money, many people simply write it in hiragana 'おろす' to avoid confusion with '降ろす' (to get off a bus/to unload) or '卸す' (to sell wholesale).

Mistake: Particle Confusion

Using 'ni' instead of 'de' for the location. WRONG: 'ATM ni okane o orosu'. RIGHT: 'ATM de okane o orosu'. The ATM is the tool/location of the action, not the destination.

Another common error is using 'dasu' (to put out/take out) instead of 'orosu'. While 'okane o dasu' is grammatically correct, it usually means 'to pay' or 'to take money out of your wallet'. If you mean 'withdraw from a bank account', 'orosu' or 'hikidasu' are the correct choices. Learners also sometimes confuse 'orosu' with 'kariru' (to borrow). Withdrawing your own money is 'orosu'; borrowing money from a friend or a loan shark is 'kariru'. Mixing these up can lead to very awkward financial conversations!

Mistake: Intransitive vs. Transitive

Confusing 'orosu' (transitive) with 'oriru' (intransitive). 'Oriru' means to go down or get off. You cannot 'oriru' money.

Finally, be careful with the 'te-form' conjugation. Since it ends in 'su', the te-form is 'shite'. Some learners mistakenly say 'orotte' (following the pattern of verbs like 'matsu' -> 'matte'). Always remember: 'orosu' -> 'oroshite'. Additionally, in formal banking documents, you will see 'hikidashi' (withdrawal) and 'yoke' (deposit). If you try to write 'orosu' on a formal bank form, it might look a bit too casual, although the teller will certainly understand you. Stick to 'orosu' for speaking and 'hikidasu' for reading/writing in official contexts.

Summary of Pitfalls

1. Wrong Kanji. 2. Wrong Particle. 3. Confusing with borrowing. 4. Wrong Te-form conjugation.

Japanese has several words that overlap with the concept of 'withdrawing' or 'taking out' money. The most significant one is 引き出す (hikidasu). While 'orosu' is the go-to word for daily conversation and casual speech, 'hikidasu' is more formal and technical. You will see 'hikidasu' on ATM screens, in bank contracts, and in news reports. It literally means 'to pull out' (hiki = pull, dasu = out). In a metaphorical sense, 'hikidasu' is also used for 'drawing out' someone's potential or 'extracting' information, whereas 'orosu' is strictly limited to physical objects or money.

Comparison: おろす vs. 引き出す

おろす: Casual, spoken, focused on the act of getting cash.
引き出す: Formal, written, used on ATM buttons, can be metaphorical.

Another word to consider is 崩す (kuzusu). This means 'to break' or 'to change'. It is used when you have a large bill (like a 10,000 yen note) and you need to 'break' it into smaller change. You might say 'Ichiman-en o kuzushite, sen-en satsu ni shitai' (I want to break 10,000 yen into 1,000 yen bills). While 'orosu' gets the money out of the bank, 'kuzusu' changes the form of the money you already have. Then there is 出す (dasu), which is a very general verb for 'taking out'. You can use it for taking money out of a bag, but it lacks the specific 'bank withdrawal' meaning that 'orosu' carries.

Synonym: 払い戻す (haraimodosu)

This means 'to refund' or 'to pay back'. It is used when you get money back from a cancelled ticket or a returned item. It is not used for standard bank withdrawals.

Lastly, we have 解約する (kaiyaku suru), which means 'to cancel a contract'. If you are closing your bank account and taking all the money out, you would use this word. 'Orosu' is for a routine withdrawal, but 'kaiyaku' is the end of the relationship with the bank. For an A2 learner, mastering the distinction between 'orosu' (daily cash) and 'hikidasu' (ATM buttons) is the most practical goal. You will also see 'azukeru' (to deposit) as the direct opposite of 'orosu'. Understanding these pairs helps solidify your financial vocabulary in Japanese.

Quick Reference Table

- Withdraw (Casual): おろす
- Withdraw (Formal): 引き出す
- Deposit: 預ける (azukeru)
- Transfer: 振込 (furikomi)