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B1 noun #5,000 most common 10 min read

小遣い

kozukai Top 5,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 小遣い in 30 Seconds

Explanation 小遣い in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 小遣い (kozukai) as a simple word for 'money for treats.' You might hear it as お小遣い (o-kozukai). Think of it as the money you get from your parents to buy candy or a small toy. At this stage, just focus on the basic idea: money that is not for big things like rent, but for small, fun things. You will mostly see it used with the verb 'morau' (to receive) or 'ageru' (to give). For example, 'O-kozukai o morau' means 'I get pocket money.' It's a very useful word because it helps you talk about your daily life and your hobbies. Even though it's a B1 word, knowing it early helps you understand Japanese cartoons and family life stories.

At the A2 level, you can start using 小遣い to describe your habits and simple financial situations. You should be able to say how much allowance you get or how you spend it. For example, 'I get 3,000 yen of pocket money every month' (Maitsuki san-man-en no o-kozukai o moraimasu). You can also use it with the verb 'tsukau' (to spend). At this level, you might also encounter the word in the context of saving money for something special. Using 'o-kozukai' instead of just 'okane' (money) makes your Japanese sound more specific and natural when talking about personal spending. You should also recognize that 'o' at the beginning makes it polite.

At the B1 level, you should understand the cultural nuances of 小遣い in Japan. This includes the 'kozukai-sei' (allowance system) where working adults, particularly husbands, receive a monthly amount from their spouse. You should be able to discuss budgeting and the concept of 'kozukai-kasegi' (earning extra spending money). You should also be able to distinguish kozukai from other financial terms like 'seikatsu-hi' (living expenses) and 'teate' (official allowances). At this stage, you are expected to use the word correctly in various social contexts, knowing when to add the honorific 'o' and how to use it in more complex sentences involving conditions or reasons, such as 'Because my allowance is small, I can't afford a new phone.'

At the B2 level, you can use 小遣い to discuss social and economic trends. You might read articles about how the average 'kozukai' for salarymen has changed over the decades as a reflection of Japan's economic health. You should be comfortable using the word in debates or discussions about family dynamics and financial management. You can also use related idioms and compound words like 'kozukai-chou' (allowance ledger) and understand the psychological implications of 'kozukai'—how it represents a sense of autonomy within a collective household. Your usage should be fluid, incorporating the word into complex grammatical structures and recognizing it in formal news reports about consumer spending.

At the C1 level, you should have a deep grasp of the historical and sociological aspects of 小遣い. You can analyze how the concept of 'kozukai' has evolved from the Edo period to the present day. You should be able to discuss the word's etymology (from 'tsukau' - to handle/send) and its relation to other archaic terms for money. You can use the word in sophisticated literary analysis or in high-level business discussions regarding discretionary spending. You should also be able to explain the difference between 'kozukai' and more obscure terms like 'sunshi' or 'dachin' with precision. Your mastery of the word includes understanding its use in nuances of sarcasm or social commentary in advanced literature.

At the C2 level, you are a master of the word 小遣い and all its connotations. You can use it to explore complex themes of power and control in Japanese domestic life. You understand the subtle shift in meaning when the word appears in legal documents versus casual slang. You can write academic essays on the 'Kozukai System' and its impact on the Japanese macroeconomy. You are also familiar with the rarest compounds and historical variations of the word. At this level, kozukai is not just a vocabulary item but a cultural symbol that you can manipulate to express precise shades of meaning, irony, or cultural critique in both written and spoken Japanese at a near-native or native-equivalent level.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

小遣い in 30 Seconds

Refers to personal spending money or an allowance.
Commonly used for children and in Japanese household budget systems.
Often takes the honorific prefix 'o' (お小遣い) in polite speech.
Distinct from salary or official business allowances (teate).

The Japanese word 小遣い (こづかい - kozukai) is a fundamental term in Japanese daily life that translates most accurately to 'pocket money' or 'allowance.' While it sounds simple, it carries deep cultural weight in Japan, representing personal financial freedom within a structured social or familial environment. At its core, the word is composed of two kanji: 小 (ko) meaning 'small' and 遣い (tsukai) meaning 'usage' or 'handling.' Together, they literally describe the handling of small amounts of money. In English-speaking cultures, we often think of 'allowance' as something strictly for children, but in Japan, 小遣い is a term used by adults, particularly within the context of the traditional 'salaryman' household structure.

The Family Dynamic: In many Japanese households, the wife manages the family finances (the 'treasurer' role), and the husband receives a monthly kozukai from his own salary to cover personal expenses like lunch, hobbies, or drinks with colleagues.

今月は小遣いがピンチだから、飲み会には行けないよ。
(My allowance is in a pinch this month, so I can't go to the drinking party.)

The term is frequently prefixed with the honorific 'o', becoming お小遣い (o-kozukai). This version is more common when talking to children, when being polite, or when referring to someone else's money. When a child receives money from their parents for chores or as a monthly stipend, it is always called o-kozukai. This word is essential for B1 learners because it bridges the gap between basic 'money' (okane) and the more specific social contracts surrounding spending. It is used in casual conversations, financial planning discussions, and even in literature to depict the economic status of a character. Understanding kozukai is a window into the Japanese value of frugality and the 'division of labor' within a home.

Furthermore, the term distinguishes itself from 'salary' (kyuryo) or 'living expenses' (seikatsu-hi). While salary is the total earned income, kozukai is the discretionary portion meant for the individual's enjoyment. In the modern era, the 'Kozukai-sei' (allowance system) for husbands is a frequent topic of television segments and news articles, often discussing whether the average monthly allowance is rising or falling in line with the economy. For a Japanese person, saying 'I have no kozukai left' is a socially acceptable way to decline an invitation without losing face, as it implies a external constraint rather than a personal refusal.

Common Contexts: 1. Children receiving weekly/monthly money.
2. Husbands/Wives receiving a set amount for personal hobbies.
3. Extra money given for a specific trip (travel allowance).
4. New Year's money (Otoshidama) is a form of special kozukai.

父さんは小遣いを値上げしてほしいと言っている。
(Dad is saying he wants his allowance increased.)

Using 小遣い correctly requires understanding its grammatical role as a noun and the verbs it typically pairs with. Because it represents a flow of money, it is most commonly used with verbs of giving, receiving, and spending. For example, to say 'to give an allowance,' you use 小遣いをやる (informal/to children) or 小遣いをあげる (neutral). Conversely, to receive it is 小遣いをもらう. If you are a student or a child, you might ask for an increase using 小遣いを増やす (to increase) or 値上げする (to raise the price/amount).

Grammar Pattern: [Amount] + の + 小遣い: When specifying the amount, use the particle 'no'. For example: 'San-man-en no kozukai' (An allowance of 30,000 yen).

一ヶ月に五千円の小遣いでやりくりしています。
(I manage to get by on 5,000 yen of pocket money a month.)

Another important aspect is the honorific O. In 90% of spoken situations, you will hear お小遣い. Using the word without 'O' can sound a bit more masculine, business-like, or strictly objective. If you are talking about your own allowance to a friend, kozukai is fine. If you are talking to your child or about someone else's money, o-kozukai is the standard polite form. Note that kozukai is also used in the compound 小遣い稼ぎ (kozukai-kasegi), which means 'earning extra spending money' or 'doing a side hustle.' This is a very common phrase for students who take part-time jobs or adults who do small tasks online for extra cash.

In written Japanese, kozukai often appears in household account books (kakeibo). It is categorized separately from 'shoku-hi' (food costs) and 'juu-kyo-hi' (housing costs). When you spend your pocket money, the verb used is 使い果たす (tsukai-hatasu - to use up) or 貯める (tameru - to save). In a sentence like 'I saved my allowance to buy a bike,' you would say: O-kozukai o tamete jitensha o katta. This demonstrates the word's role as a source of funds for non-essential items.

Verbal Collocations: - 小遣いをねだる (to beg for an allowance)
- 小遣いを削る (to cut back on pocket money)
- 小遣いを貯金する (to save one's allowance)

彼は小遣い稼ぎのために、週末にバイトをしている。
(He is working a part-time job on weekends to earn some extra spending money.)

You will encounter 小遣い in a variety of settings, ranging from the domestic dinner table to the pages of economic journals. In Japanese media, especially anime and manga focused on daily life (slice-of-life), o-kozukai is a recurring theme. You'll see protagonists negotiating with their mothers for more money to buy a new manga volume or a video game. In these contexts, it's often depicted with a sense of humorous desperation. The 'struggle' of the salaryman to survive on a meager allowance is also a trope in Japanese comedy and drama, highlighting a specific social reality where the earner does not necessarily control the spending.

「お母さん、今月のお小遣い、前借りできる？」
(Mom, can I get an advance on this month's allowance?)

In the news, you might hear the term 小遣い制 (kozukai-sei), which refers to the 'allowance system' in marriages. Financial analysts often discuss how much 'disposable income' the average worker has in the form of kozukai, as this directly affects the restaurant and retail industries. If kozukai amounts drop nationwide, it’s a sign of a tightening economy. You will also see advertisements for 'point sites' or side-hustle apps that use the catchphrase 'kozukai-稼ぎ' to attract people looking to earn a bit of extra money in their spare time.

In literature, the word can be used to set the scene of a character's financial standing. A character who has 'plenty of kozukai' is seen as carefree or wealthy, while one who 'scrimps on kozukai' is depicted as diligent or perhaps oppressed by poverty. Even in modern J-Pop lyrics, the word occasionally pops up to ground a song in the mundane realities of youth. For example, a song might mention 'spending all my o-kozukai on a train ticket to see you.' It’s a word that evokes a sense of personal scale—money that belongs to 'me' for 'my' small desires.

Common Media Phrases: - お小遣い帳 (Allowance Ledger/Book)
- 旦那のお小遣い (Husband's allowance)
- お小遣いサイト (Reward/Point sites for earning small cash)

修学旅行のお小遣いは三千円までと決まっています。
(The pocket money for the school trip is limited to 3,000 yen.)

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is using 小遣い to mean any kind of 'allowance' in a general sense. In English, 'allowance' can mean a baggage allowance on a plane, a tax allowance, or a technical tolerance in engineering. In Japanese, kozukai only refers to personal spending money. For other types of 'allowances,' Japanese uses different words. For example, a travel allowance for business is ryohi (travel expenses), and a family allowance provided by a company is kazoku-teate.

Kozukai vs. Teate: Kozukai: Personal money for fun/small needs.
Teate (手当): Official allowance/benefit (e.g., housing allowance, overtime pay).

× 住宅の小遣いをもらう。
○ 住宅手当をもらう。
(I receive a housing allowance.)

Another mistake is confusing kozukai with 生活費 (seikatsu-hi), which means 'living expenses.' Living expenses cover rent, utilities, and food for the household. Kozukai is what is left over for yourself. If you tell someone you spent all your seikatsu-hi on a hobby, it sounds like you are in a dire situation and can't pay rent. If you say you spent all your kozukai, it just means you can't buy any more treats this month. Learners also sometimes forget to use the honorific O when it's socially appropriate. While not a 'grammatical' error, saying just kozukai to your boss or a teacher about their money would sound overly familiar or slightly rude.

Lastly, be careful with the verb 遣う (tsukau). While it's part of the word kozukai, when you actually spend money, you usually use the standard kanji 使う (tsukau). The kanji 遣 in kozukai has a nuance of 'sending' or 'bestowing' (as in 'sending' money for a specific use), which is why it is used in the noun form but less commonly in the general verb for 'spending' in modern Japanese.

Summary of Confusion: - Use 手当 (teate) for official/business benefits.
- Use 生活費 (seikatsu-hi) for rent/bills.
- Use お小遣い (o-kozukai) for politeness.

While 小遣い is the go-to word for allowance, there are several related terms that you should know to sound more natural and precise. One such word is 駄賃 (dachin). Historically, this referred to the fee paid to a packhorse driver, but today it is used colloquially for a small reward given to a child for doing an errand (otsukai). It's more specific than kozukai because it's a direct payment for a specific task. If you give a kid 100 yen for buying milk, that's dachin.

Comparison Table

小遣い (Kozukai): General spending money/allowance.
駄賃 (Dachin): Reward for a small chore.
手当 (Teate): Official allowance/benefit.
お年玉 (Otoshidama): New Year's money gift.

お使いに行ってくれたから、お駄賃に100円あげるね。
(Since you went on an errand for me, I'll give you 100 yen as a reward.)

Another alternative is 自由になる金 (jiyuu ni naru kane), which literally means 'money that becomes free.' This is a more descriptive way to say 'disposable income' or 'money I can spend as I wish.' It's often used by adults when discussing their financial situation without using the slightly childish-sounding word kozukai. For example, 'After paying all the bills, I have very little jiyuu ni naru kane left.' Additionally, 予備費 (yobi-hi) refers to 'reserve funds' or 'pocket money' in a more formal or business-like context, such as extra money set aside for emergencies during a trip.

Lastly, consider へそくり (hesokuri). This is a fascinating cultural word meaning 'secret savings.' While kozukai is the money you are openly given to spend, hesokuri is the money you've secretly tucked away (usually by the person managing the household budget) for personal use or emergencies. The contrast between kozukai (public personal money) and hesokuri (private personal money) is a common theme in Japanese family humor.

Synonym Summary: - ポケットマネー (Poketto manee): Loanword for pocket money, often used in business contexts when someone pays out of their own pocket.
- 寸志 (Sunshi): A very formal term for a small gift of money, often given as a tip or a token of gratitude.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The kanji 遣 in 小遣い is the same one used in 'otsukai' (errand). This reflects the history of giving children money specifically when they were sent on errands.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /kɒ.zuː.kaɪ/

US /koʊ.zuː.kaɪ/

In Japanese, it has a flat pitch accent (Heiban), meaning the pitch starts low and stays high.

Rhymes With

Sekai (World) Mikai (Unopened) Kikai (Opportunity) Shikai (View) Nikaiten (Two rotations) Tokai (City) Gaikai (Outside world) Zenkai (Full power)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'zu' as 'dzu' too harshly.
Making the 'o' in 'ko' too long like 'kooo'.
Stressing the wrong syllable (Japanese is mora-timed).
Confusing the 'tsu' origin (it's actually 'tsukai' but becomes 'zukai' due to rendaku).
Misreading the kanji as 'shousei' (incorrect reading).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Kanji are common but the second one is slightly more advanced.

Writing 4/5

The kanji '遣' is tricky to write correctly.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to pronounce and very useful.

Listening 2/5

Very common word in media and daily life.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

お金 (Money) 使う (To use) 小さい (Small) あげる (To give) もらう (To receive)

Learn Next

給与 (Salary) 節約 (Saving/Frugality) 家計簿 (Household account book) 貯金 (Savings) 投資 (Investment)

Advanced

歳出 (Expenditure) 手当 (Benefit) 扶養 (Support/Dependents) 所得 (Income) 資産 (Assets)

Grammar to Know

Honorific Prefix 'O'

お小遣い (Polite form of Kozukai)

Particle 'DE' for Means

お小遣いで買う (To buy WITH pocket money)

Particle 'NO' for Amount

三千円のお小遣い (An allowance OF 3,000 yen)

Giving/Receiving Verbs

小遣いをやる/あげる/もらう

Compound Nouns

小遣い + 稼ぎ = 小遣い稼ぎ

Examples by Level

お小遣いをください。

Please give me some pocket money.

Uses the polite 'kudasai' with 'o-kozukai'.

お小遣いでガムを買いました。

I bought gum with my pocket money.

The particle 'de' indicates the means (the money used).

今日のお小遣いは百円です。

Today's pocket money is 100 yen.

Simple A is B structure.

お小遣い、いくら？

How much is the allowance?

Informal question using 'ikura'.

お父さんにお小遣いをもらいました。

I received pocket money from my father.

Uses the 'ni ... morau' (receive from) pattern.

お小遣いがありません。

I don't have any pocket money.

Negative form of 'arimasu'.

お小遣いを貯めます。

I will save my pocket money.

Future/habitual action 'tameru'.

これは私のお小遣いです。

This is my pocket money.

Possessive 'watashi no'.

毎月三千円のお小遣いをもらっています。

I receive 3,000 yen of pocket money every month.

Uses 'te-iru' for a habitual state.

お小遣いを全部使ってしまいました。

I ended up spending all my pocket money.

Uses 'te-shimau' to indicate regret.

お小遣いを貯めて、ゲームを買いたい。

I want to save my allowance and buy a game.

Connects two actions with the 'te' form.

お小遣いが足りないので、映画に行けません。

Since I don't have enough pocket money, I can't go to the movie.

Uses 'node' for reason and the potential negative 'ikenai'.

母はお小遣いを五百円くれました。

My mother gave me 500 yen as pocket money.

Uses 'kureru' (someone gives to me).

お小遣い帳をつけていますか？

Do you keep an allowance ledger?

The verb 'tsukeru' is used for keeping a record.

テストでいい点を取ったので、お小遣いをもらった。

I got a good grade on the test, so I got some pocket money.

Past tense 'moratta' with a reason clause.

お小遣いを無駄遣いしてはいけません。

You must not waste your pocket money.

Uses 'te wa ikemasen' for prohibition.

日本の夫の多くはお小遣い制で生活している。

Many Japanese husbands live on an allowance system.

Introduces the compound 'kozukai-sei'.

お小遣い稼ぎのために、ネットでアンケートに答える。

To earn extra spending money, I answer surveys online.

Uses 'tame ni' for purpose.

今月はお小遣いがピンチだ。

My allowance is in a tight spot this month.

Uses the slang/casual 'pinchi' (pinch/crisis).

お小遣いの範囲内でやりくりするのは大変だ。

It's hard to manage within the limits of my allowance.

Uses 'hani-nai' (within range) and 'yarikuri' (managing).

彼は小遣いを削って、彼女へのプレゼントを買った。

He cut back on his allowance to buy a present for his girlfriend.

Uses 'kezuru' (to shave/cut back).

お小遣いを値上げしてもらえるよう、父に頼んでみた。

I tried asking my father if he could increase my allowance.

Uses 'te-moraeru' (can receive the favor of) and 'te-miru' (try doing).

旅行に行くので、特別にお小遣いをもらった。

I'm going on a trip, so I got some extra pocket money.

Uses 'tokubetsu ni' (specially/extra).

小遣い銭（こづかいぜに）をジャラジャラさせている。

He is jingling his pocket change.

Uses 'kozukai-zeni' (pocket change) and the onomatopoeia 'jara-jara'.

景気が悪くなると、サラリーマンのお小遣いも減る傾向にある。

When the economy worsens, there is a tendency for salarymen's allowances to decrease.

Uses 'keiko ni aru' (have a tendency).

お小遣いの中から貯金をして、将来に備える。

I save from my allowance to prepare for the future.

Uses 'sonaeru' (to prepare/provide for).

親は子供にお小遣いを与えることで、金銭感覚を養わせる。

By giving children an allowance, parents let them develop a sense of money.

Uses the causative form 'yashinawaseru'.

彼は小遣いを使い果たして、友達に借金をした。

He used up his allowance and borrowed money from a friend.

Uses 'tsukai-hatasu' (use up completely).

お小遣いの額は、学年が上がるにつれて増えていく。

The amount of allowance increases as the school grade goes up.

Uses 'ni tsurete' (as ... increases).

妻に内緒で、小遣いをへそくりに回している。

I'm secretly turning some of my allowance into a secret stash from my wife.

Uses 'naisho de' (in secret) and 'hesokuri'.

お小遣いサイトでポイントを貯めるのが趣味だ。

My hobby is collecting points on reward sites for extra cash.

Refers to a modern digital context.

小遣い程度の収入では、一人暮らしは無理だ。

With an income that's only about the level of pocket money, living alone is impossible.

Uses 'teido' (degree/about the level of).

家計を圧迫しない程度に、夫の小遣いを設定する。

Set the husband's allowance to an extent that it doesn't strain the household finances.

Uses 'appaku suru' (to pressure/strain).

彼は小遣いをやりくりして、高価なカメラを手に入れた。

By managing his allowance carefully, he managed to get an expensive camera.

Uses 'te ni ireru' (to obtain/get).

お小遣いの使い道は、個人の自由であるべきだ。

How one uses their pocket money should be a matter of personal freedom.

Uses 'tsukai-michi' (way to use/purpose of spending).

子供に定額のお小遣いを与えるのは、経済教育の一環だ。

Uses 'ikkan' (a part of).

小遣い稼ぎのつもりが、本格的な副業になってしまった。

What was intended as just earning extra cash turned into a full-scale side business.

Uses 'tsumori' (intention).

彼は小遣いを惜しんで、昼食を抜くこともある。

He begrudges spending his allowance and sometimes skips lunch.

Uses 'oshinde' (begrudgingly/sparingly).

お小遣いの多寡が、子供の人間関係に影響することもある。

The amount of pocket money can sometimes influence a child's social relationships.

Uses the formal 'taka' (amount/quantity).

小遣い銭をはたく（はたく）ようにして、その本を買った。

I bought that book by scraping together every last bit of my pocket money.

Uses 'hataku' (to empty out/spend all).

「小遣い」という言葉の背後には、日本独自の家計管理の歴史がある。

Behind the word 'kozukai' lies a history of household management unique to Japan.

Abstract analysis of the term.

小遣い制の是非については、夫婦間でも意見が分かれるところだ。

The pros and cons of the allowance system are a point where even couples' opinions differ.

Uses 'zehi' (pros and cons) and 'wakareru tokoro' (a point of divergence).

彼は小遣い程度の端金（はしたがね）には目もくれない。

He doesn't even glance at pittance that's only about the level of pocket money.

Uses 'hashitagane' (pittance/pocket change) and 'me mo kurenai' (not even look at).

小遣いという名目（めいもく）で、多額の資金が流用されていた。

Large sums of money were being diverted under the guise of 'pocket money.'

Uses 'meimoku' (guise/pretext) and 'ryuyo' (diversion/misappropriation).

現代社会において、お小遣いは単なる金銭以上の心理的価値を持つ。

In modern society, pocket money holds psychological value beyond mere currency.

Uses 'tannaru ... ijou' (more than just).

小遣いを切り詰める（きりつめる）ことで、ようやく貯金が目標額に達した。

By drastically cutting back on pocket money, the savings finally reached the target amount.

Uses 'kiritsumeru' (to curtail/cut down).

お小遣いの範囲を逸脱（いつだつ）した支出は、家計の崩壊を招く。

Spending that deviates from the scope of one's allowance leads to the collapse of household finances.

Uses 'itsudatsu' (deviation) and 'maneku' (to bring about/invite).

小遣い稼ぎに端を発した（はを発した）事業が、今や大企業となった。

A business that originated from earning extra spending money has now become a major corporation.

Uses 'ha o hasshita' (originated from).

Synonyms

ポケットマネー小遣い銭駄賃手当寸志へそくり自由金予備費

Antonyms

生活費大金給与公金

Common Collocations

小遣いをもらう

小遣いをあげる

小遣いを貯める

小遣い稼ぎ

小遣い帳

小遣い制

小遣いを使い果たす

小遣いをねだる

小遣いを削る

小遣い銭

Common Phrases

お小遣いの範囲で

— Within the limits of one's allowance.

お小遣いの範囲で買い物を楽しむ。

小遣い程度の

— A small amount, comparable to an allowance.

小遣い程度の利益しか出ない。

お小遣い前借り

— An advance on one's allowance.

来月のお小遣いを前借りする。

小遣い稼ぎに

— For the purpose of earning a little extra money.

小遣い稼ぎにフリマアプリを使う。

月々のお小遣い

— One's monthly allowance.

月々のお小遣いはいくらですか？

小遣いなし

— No allowance / No spending money.

今月は小遣いなしだ。

お小遣い日

— The day one receives their allowance.

今日はお小遣い日だ！

お小遣い事情

— The situation or status of one's allowance.

最近のサラリーマンのお小遣い事情。

お小遣いアップ

— An increase in allowance.

お小遣いアップを交渉する。

お小遣いカット

— A cut in allowance.

不況でお小遣いがカットされた。

Often Confused With

小遣い vs 手当 (Teate)

Teate is for official/work benefits; Kozukai is for personal spending.

小遣い vs 生活費 (Seikatsu-hi)

Seikatsu-hi is for survival/bills; Kozukai is for fun/extras.

小遣い vs 給料 (Kyuryo)

Kyuryo is the whole salary; Kozukai is just the personal portion.

Idioms & Expressions

"小遣い銭にもならない"

— To not even earn enough to be considered pocket money; to be worthless.

そんな苦労をしても、小遣い銭にもならないよ。

Informal

"小遣いをはたく"

— To spend every last bit of one's pocket money on something.

小遣いをはたいて、欲しかった靴を買った。

Casual

"鼻薬を嗅がせる"

— A related idiom meaning to give a small bribe (like a 'kozukai') to someone to get them to do something.

役人に鼻薬を嗅がせて、便宜を図ってもらう。

Old-fashioned/Idiomatic

"雀の涙"

— A tiny amount (often used to describe a very small kozukai).

ボーナスが出たが、雀の涙ほどだった。

Common

"財布の紐を握る"

— To control the purse strings (the person who decides the kozukai).

我が家では妻が財布の紐を握っている。

Common

"二の次にする"

— To put something (like saving) second to spending kozukai.

貯金は二の次にして、小遣いを使ってしまう。

Neutral

"身銭を切る"

— To pay out of one's own pocket (one's own kozukai).

会社の備品を、身銭を切って買った。

Formal

"懐が寂しい"

— To be short on money (to have an empty kozukai wallet).

今月は懐が寂しいので、遊びに行けない。

Figurative

"足が出る"

— To exceed one's budget/kozukai.

飲み会で足が出てしまった。

Common

"棚からぼた餅"

— A windfall (like getting unexpected kozukai).

祖父からお小遣いをもらえるなんて、棚からぼた餅だ。

Common

Easily Confused

小遣い vs 駄賃 (Dachin)

Both are small amounts of money for kids.

Dachin is specifically a reward for a task; Kozukai is a regular allowance.

お使いの駄賃に100円もらった。

小遣い vs 寸志 (Sunshi)

Both refer to 'small amounts'.

Sunshi is a formal gift/tip given by a superior to an inferior as thanks.

先生に寸志を包む。

小遣い vs お年玉 (Otoshidama)

Both are money for kids.

Otoshidama is specifically a New Year's gift.

お年玉でお小遣いが増えた。

小遣い vs ポケットマネー

Direct translation.

Pocket money (loanword) is often used when an adult pays for a business expense themselves.

社長がポケットマネーで奢ってくれた。

小遣い vs 予備費 (Yobi-hi)

Both are 'extra' money.

Yobi-hi is a formal budget term for 'reserve funds'.

旅行の予算に予備費を含める。

Sentence Patterns

[Person] に [Amount] のお小遣いをあげる

子供に千円のお小遣いをあげる。

お小遣いで [Object] を買う

お小遣いで漫画を買う。

お小遣いを [Verb] ために [Action]

お小遣いを貯めるために、外食を控える。

[Noun] はお小遣い制だ

私の家はお小遣い制だ。

お小遣い稼ぎに [Action]

お小遣い稼ぎにバイトをする。

お小遣いの範囲で [Verb]

お小遣いの範囲でやりくりする。

お小遣い程度の [Noun]

お小遣い程度の端金。

お小遣いという名目で [Action]

お小遣いという名目で金を渡す。

Word Family

Nouns

小遣い (Allowance)

遣い (Usage/Errand)

使い道 (Way of spending)

Verbs

使う (To use)

遣わす (To send/bestow - archaic)

使い果たす (To use up)

金 (Money)

貯金 (Savings)

家計 (Household finance)

手当 (Allowance/Benefit)

駄賃 (Reward)

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in daily life and family-related discussions.

Common Mistakes

Using 'kozukai' for salary. → 給料 (Kyuryo)
Salary is the total payment; kozukai is only the small personal spending part.
Using 'kozukai' for baggage allowance. → 許容量 (Kyoyoryo)
Kozukai only refers to money, not physical limits.
Writing 'kozukai' as 小使い. → 小遣い
While '使い' is common, '遣い' is the standard kanji for this specific word.
Using 'kozukai' for a business trip stipend. → 日当 (Nitto)
Official stipends use formal business terms like 'nitto'.
Assuming 'kozukai' is only for kids. → N/A
Adults use this word frequently in domestic financial contexts.

Tips

The Salaryman Struggle

Understanding 'kozukai' helps you empathize with the Japanese 'salaryman' culture where personal spending is often strictly limited.

Politeness Matters

Always use 'o-kozukai' when talking to someone outside your close family to sound natural and respectful.

Rendaku Rule

Remember that 'tsukai' becomes 'zukai' (づかい). This is a common phonological change in Japanese compounds.

Compound Power

Learning 'kozukai-kasegi' is very useful for describing part-time jobs or side interests that earn money.

Media Context

Look for the word in 'slice-of-life' anime; it's a great way to hear how different characters use the term.

Budgeting Term

Use this word when setting up your own Japanese-style household account book (kakeibo).

Polite Declining

If you want to decline an expensive outing politely, saying 'kozukai ga...' is a very 'Japanese' way to do it.

Kanji Meaning

Focus on the 'small usage' meaning of the kanji to never forget the word's definition.

Kanji Practice

Practice the kanji 遣 (tsuka-u) as it appears in many other useful words like 'otsukai' (errand).

Audio Cues

Note the flat pitch accent; it should sound like 'ko-zu-ka-i' with no particular syllable popping out.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Small (小)' amount of money you 'Use (遣い)' for yourself. Ko-Zukai.

Visual Association

Imagine a small child holding a 500-yen coin (small money) and looking at a candy shelf.

Word Web

Money Child Husband Small Spend Save Candy Hobby

Challenge

Try to spend only 1000 yen today and call it your 'Kozukai limit' in your head.

Word Origin

Derived from the verb 'tsukau' (使う/遣う), which means to use, employ, or send. The prefix 'ko' (小) adds the meaning of 'small' or 'minor.'

Original meaning: Originally referred to small errands or the minor handling of affairs, which evolved into the money handled for such minor things.

Japonic

Cultural Context

Be careful not to sound condescending when discussing a grown man's 'kozukai' in Japan; it is a respected traditional system of financial discipline.

In the West, 'allowance' is mostly for kids. In Japan, it's very common for married adults too.

Crayon Shin-chan: Often features the father, Hiroshi, begging for more kozukai. Sazae-san: Depicts traditional Japanese family financial dynamics. Various 'Kozukai-setsu' (allowance saving) blogs and books are popular in Japan.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At home

お小遣いちょうだい
お小遣いあげたっけ？
お小遣い帳書きなさい
今月のお小遣い終わり

With friends

お小遣いピンチだわ
お小遣い稼ぎしてる？
お小遣い貯めてるんだ
それお小遣いで買ったの？

At school

お小遣いの制限
お小遣いで買い食い
お小遣い足りる？
お小遣い持ってきた？

In a marriage

お小遣い制にしよう
お小遣いアップして
お小遣いから出すよ
俺の小遣い少なすぎ

Side hustles

小遣い稼ぎのサイト
いい小遣い稼ぎになる
小遣い稼ぎ程度だけど
副業で小遣い稼ぎ

Conversation Starters

"子供の頃、お小遣いはいくらもらっていましたか？ (How much allowance did you get as a child?)"

"お小遣いを何に使うのが一番好きですか？ (What do you like spending your pocket money on the most?)"

"お小遣い制についてどう思いますか？ (What do you think about the allowance system?)"

"最近、何かお小遣い稼ぎをしていますか？ (Have you been doing any side hustles for extra money lately?)"

"お小遣いを貯めて買った一番高いものは何ですか？ (What is the most expensive thing you bought by saving your allowance?)"

Journal Prompts

今月のお小遣いの使い道について書いてください。 (Write about how you plan to use your pocket money this month.)

理想のお小遣い制について自分の考えを述べてください。 (State your thoughts on the ideal allowance system.)

子供にお小遣いを与えることのメリットとデメリット。 (The merits and demerits of giving children an allowance.)

初めてお小遣いをもらった時の思い出。 (Memories of the first time you received an allowance.)

もしお小遣いが10倍になったら、何をしますか？ (If your allowance became 10 times larger, what would you do?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, it is very common for married adults in Japan to receive a 'kozukai' from the person managing the household budget.

The 'o' is an honorific prefix. 'O-kozukai' is more polite and common in daily conversation, while 'kozukai' is more objective or casual.

It varies, but elementary students might get 500-1000 yen, while high schoolers might get 3000-5000 yen per month.

No, you should use 'ryohi' (travel expenses) or 'nito' (daily allowance/stipend).

It refers to earning small amounts of extra money through part-time work, surveys, or side hustles.

It means to 'send' or 'handle,' originating from the money 'sent' with someone for their use.

Yes, if referring to their money. Use 'o-kozukai' or a more formal term like 'go-shishutsu' (spending).

It is a small ledger book used by children to track their income and spending.

In financial reports, 'kozukai' is usually replaced by 'disposable income' (kashobun-shotoku) or 'personal spending' (kojin-shohi).

For many salarymen, yes, their monthly 'kozukai' is expected to cover their daily lunches.