入金

The Japanese word 入金 (nyūkin) is a fundamental financial term that literally translates to 'entering money.' Composed of the kanji 入 (to enter/put in) and 金 (money/gold), it describes the action of depositing funds into an account or the receipt of payment by a business or individual. In a daily context, you will encounter this word most frequently at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), where the button for making a deposit is clearly labeled as 入金. Unlike the more general word for 'paying' (支払い - shiharai), nyūkin specifically emphasizes the movement of money into a destination account or the successful arrival of those funds.

Banking Context

When you stand before a Japanese bank machine, you are presented with several options. 入金 is the process of feeding physical banknotes or coins into the machine to update your balance. It is the direct opposite of 出金 (shukkun), which refers to withdrawing money. In the digital age, this also applies to transferring funds from one app to another, such as 'charging' a mobile wallet like PayPay or Line Pay.

Business Context

In the corporate world, nyūkin is used to describe the settlement of invoices. When a client pays a bill, the accounting department tracks the 入金確認 (nyūkin kakunin)—the confirmation of received payment. If a company says 'We are waiting for the nyūkin,' they are waiting for the funds to clear in their bank account. This is a crucial step before goods are shipped or services are rendered in many Japanese business transactions.

Transportation and IC Cards

For commuters using Suica, Pasmo, or Icoca cards, the act of adding money to the card is often referred to as nyūkin or chāji (charge). At ticket machines, selecting the 'deposit' function allows you to increase your card balance. Understanding this word is essential for navigating the Japanese transit system without running out of funds at the ticket gate.

Furthermore, nyūkin is used in the context of online shopping and auctions. When you buy something on Mercari or Yahoo! Auctions, the seller will often wait for the 入金通知 (nyūkin tsūchi) or payment notification before they pack the item. This term serves as a bridge between the buyer's action of paying and the seller's receipt of funds. It encompasses the entire concept of money moving into the designated space where it belongs for a transaction to be considered 'funded.'

In summary, nyūkin is an indispensable term for anyone living, working, or traveling in Japan. It covers everything from the simple act of putting a 1000-yen note into a machine to complex international business settlements. By mastering this word, you gain clarity in financial interactions and avoid the confusion that comes with the various Japanese terms for 'money' and 'payment.'

Using 入金 (nyūkin) correctly requires understanding its role as a noun that can easily become a verb by adding suru (to do). As a noun, it functions as 'the deposit' or 'the payment received.' As a verb, nyūkin suru means 'to deposit' or 'to make a payment into an account.' The grammar surrounding this word is relatively straightforward, but paying attention to particles and honorifics is key for natural-sounding Japanese.

The '~o nyūkin suru' Pattern

This is the most common active construction. You use the object marker を (o) to indicate what is being deposited. Usually, this is genkin (cash) or okane (money).

Example: Kōza ni okane o nyūkin suru. (To deposit money into an account.)

The 'ni nyūkin suru' Pattern

The particle に (ni) indicates the destination of the money. This could be a bank account (kōza), a specific card, or a digital wallet.

Example: Suika ni go-sen en nyūkin shita. (I deposited 5,000 yen into my Suica card.)

Honorific Usage: 'Go-nyūkin'

In business or polite service contexts, the prefix ご (go) is added to show respect to the person making the payment. You will see this in emails from shops or utility companies.

Example: Go-nyūkin arigatō gozaimasu. (Thank you for your payment/deposit.)

When discussing the timing of payments, nyūkin is often paired with bi (day) to form 入金日 (nyūkin-bi). This is the scheduled date when money is expected to arrive. For freelancers and businesses, the nyūkin-bi is the most important date of the month. You might say, 'The nyūkin-bi for this project is the end of next month.'

In more complex sentences, you might see nyūkin combined with other financial terms. For example, 入金伝票 (nyūkin denpyō) refers to a deposit slip or a credit voucher in accounting. If you are studying for the JLPT or working in a Japanese office, these compound nouns will appear frequently in paperwork and accounting software.

Finally, consider the nuances between nyūkin and yokin. While both involve bank accounts, yokin (預金) specifically refers to 'savings' or the state of money being held in a bank. Nyūkin is the active movement of that money into the account. You nyūkin (deposit) money to increase your yokin (savings balance).

The word 入金 (nyūkin) is ubiquitous in the Japanese financial landscape. You don't just see it in textbooks; you hear it in the automated voices of machines, the polite tones of bank tellers, and the casual conversations of colleagues waiting for payday. It is a word that bridges the gap between high-level finance and everyday errands.

At the Bank and ATM

The most common place to hear this is at an ATM. The machine's voice guidance will often say, 'Gonyūkin no kingaku o nyūryoku shite kudasai' (Please enter the amount of your deposit). When you finish, it might say, 'Nyuūkin ga kanryō shimashita' (The deposit has been completed). Bank tellers will also use this word when confirming your request at the counter, often asking for your nyūkin-cho (deposit passbook).

In the Office and Freelance Life

If you work in a Japanese office, particularly in sales or accounting, nyūkin is part of the daily jargon. Managers will ask, 'Has the nyūkin from Client A come in yet?' Freelancers constantly check their accounts for nyūkin. It is the verbal signal that work has been successfully converted into income. You might hear someone sigh with relief, 'Yatto nyūkin ga atta' (Finally, the payment came in).

E-commerce and Online Services

When you use 'Convenience Store Payment' (Konbini-barai) for an online order, the instruction screen will tell you to complete the nyūkin by a certain deadline. Automated emails from sites like Amazon Japan or Rakuten will use formal language: 'Go-nyūkin o machi shite orimasu' (We are awaiting your payment/deposit).

In popular culture, you might see this word in dramas or anime involving business struggles or debt. A character might be frantically checking their phone for a nyūkin notification to pay off a loan. In financial news broadcasts, reporters discuss the nyūkin of large sums into the national treasury or international funds. It is a word of movement—money moving from the outside world into a safe, recognized place.

Whether you are checking your salary, paying for a new gadget, or managing a company's books, nyūkin is the keyword for financial arrival. It provides a sense of completion and security in the transaction process.

While 入金 (nyūkin) is a standard term, learners often confuse it with other money-related words or use it in contexts where a different word would be more natural. Understanding these subtle differences will help you avoid sounding like a translation app and more like a fluent speaker.

Confusing Nyūkin with Shiharai

The biggest mistake is using nyūkin when you mean 'to pay a bill' in a general sense. 支払い (shiharai) is the general term for payment. You shiharai at a restaurant or shop. Nyūkin is specifically the act of the money entering the account. If you are the one sending the money, you are 'paying' (shiharai), but the bank or the seller sees it as 'receiving a deposit' (nyūkin). Avoid saying 'I will nyūkin the waiter'—that's incorrect!

Misusing Nyūkin vs. Soukin

送金 (sōkin) means 'remittance' or 'sending money.' If you are transferring money from your account in the US to an account in Japan, you are doing sōkin. Once that money arrives and enters the Japanese account, it is a nyūkin. Use sōkin for the act of sending and nyūkin for the act of the money arriving/being deposited.

Nyūkin vs. Yokin

As mentioned before, 預金 (yokin) is the noun for 'bank deposit' or 'savings.' You don't usually 'yokin suru' in daily speech to mean 'I'm putting money in right now.' Instead, you use nyūkin suru for the action. Yokin is the money that is already sitting there in the bank.

Another subtle error occurs in the use of particles. While 'ATM de nyūkin suru' (deposit at the ATM) is correct, some learners say 'ATM o nyūkin suru,' which would imply you are trying to deposit the entire physical ATM machine into an account! Always remember that the machine is the location (de), the money is the object (o), and the account is the destination (ni).

Lastly, be careful with the word 貯金 (chokin). This is specifically 'saving money' for a goal or in a piggy bank. If you are putting money into your savings account to save up for a car, you are doing chokin. But the technical banking action of putting that money into the machine is still nyūkin. Chokin is the intent; nyūkin is the transaction.

To truly master Japanese financial vocabulary, you need to know where 入金 (nyūkin) fits among its peers. Several words share similar meanings but are used in different registers or specific situations. Here is a breakdown of the most common alternatives and how they differ.

預金 (Yokin) vs. 入金 (Nyūkin)

As previously noted, 預金 (yokin) is the state of money being deposited. It's used as a noun for 'bank account balance' or 'deposits.' Nyūkin is the act of making that deposit. You will see 'Yokin' on your bank statement as a category (e.g., Futsuu Yokin - Ordinary Deposit), but the button you press to add money is 'Nyūkin.'

払い込み (Haraikomi)

払い込み (haraikomi) is often used for paying specifically for things like insurance premiums, utility bills, or tuition fees via a bank or post office. While nyūkin is general, haraikomi emphasizes the 'paying in' of a required amount. You often use a haraikomi-youshi (payment slip) for this.

納付 (Nōfu)

納付 (nōfu) is a very formal term used almost exclusively for paying taxes, national pension, or other government-related fees. You wouldn't use nyūkin to describe paying your income tax in an official report; you would use nōfu.

チャージ (Chāji)

In modern, casual Japanese, the English loanword チャージ (chāji) is extremely common for electronic money. While ticket machines say nyūkin, most people will say, 'I need to chāji my Suica.' Use nyūkin for a more technical or formal feel, and chāji for daily digital wallet talk.

Choosing the right word depends on the context and the 'direction' of the money. If you are describing the accounting entry of money coming in, nyūkin is your best friend. If you are describing the obligation to pay the government, reach for nōfu. If you are simply topping up your phone's payment app, chāji is perfectly fine.

By understanding these distinctions, you can navigate Japanese financial interactions with precision. Nyūkin remains the most versatile 'middle-ground' word for any situation where money moves into a designated account or system.