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B1 noun 8 min read

食費

shokuhi

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 食費 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 食費 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn basic nouns. Think of 'Shokuhi' as 'food money.' Even if you can't make complex sentences yet, you can use it with simple words. For example, 'Shokuhi, takai!' (Food money, expensive!) or 'Shokuhi, go-man-en' (Food expenses, 50,000 yen). It's a vital word for basic survival and budgeting in Japan. You will see it in grocery stores or when talking about money with friends. Focus on the two parts: 'Shoku' (eat) and 'Hi' (cost). This will help you recognize other 'cost' words later, like 'Koutsuuhi' (transportation cost). Don't worry about complex grammar yet; just remember that this word refers to the total money you spend on things you eat and drink.

At the A2 level, you can begin to use 'Shokuhi' in basic sentences with particles. You might say 'Shokuhi wa ikura desu ka?' (How much are food expenses?) or 'Shokuhi o haraimasu' (I pay for food). You are likely starting to understand how Japanese society values saving money, and 'Shokuhi' is a key part of that. You can use 'Shokuhi' to describe your daily life: 'Mainichi shokuhi ga kakarimasu' (Food expenses are incurred every day). You might also start noticing it in 'Kakeibo' (household account books) which are popular in Japan. At this level, try to distinguish between 'Shokuji' (a meal) and 'Shokuhi' (the cost of the meal).

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'Shokuhi' in more nuanced contexts. You can discuss budgeting and lifestyle choices. For example, you can say 'Shokuhi o osaeru tame ni, jisui o shimasu' (I cook for myself in order to keep food expenses down). You understand that 'Shokuhi' is a category of spending. You might also start using compound words or more specific verbs like 'keizuru' (to cut/reduce) or 'kasamu' (to pile up). This is the level where you can participate in a conversation about the cost of living in Japan compared to your home country, using 'Shokuhi' as a primary point of comparison. You should also be aware of 'Gaishoku-hi' (eating out costs) as a sub-category.

At the B2 level, you can use 'Shokuhi' to discuss economic trends and social issues. You might talk about how 'bukka-jou-shou' (rising prices) is impacting 'shokuhi' for low-income families. You are able to use the word in formal writing, such as a blog post about personal finance or a report on household spending. You understand the nuance of 'Engel's Coefficient' and how 'shokuhi' relates to the overall quality of life. Your vocabulary around this word includes related terms like 'shishutsu' (expenditure) and 'kanri' (management). You can also use idiomatic-like expressions such as 'shokuhi o ukasu' (to save/spare food money).

At the C1 level, you have a sophisticated understanding of 'Shokuhi' within the context of Japanese fiscal policy and societal structures. You can analyze data regarding 'shoku-ryou-hi' (food commodity costs) and discuss the implications for the national economy. You might engage in debates about 'shokuji-hojo' (meal subsidies) in corporate environments and whether they should be taxed as part of 'shokuhi.' Your use of the word is precise, and you can switch between 'shokuhi' and more technical terms like 'shishutsu-kou-moku' (expenditure item) depending on the audience. You are also aware of the historical etymology of the kanji and how the concept of 'hi' (expense) has evolved in Japanese business language.

At the C2 level, you use 'Shokuhi' with the fluency of a native speaker, including its use in complex metaphors or highly formal academic discourse. You can write comprehensive analyses of how 'shokuhi' patterns reflect shifting cultural attitudes toward 'jisui' (home cooking) vs 'gaishoku' (dining out) in post-modern Japan. You understand the subtle differences in tone between 'shokuhi' in a casual conversation and 'in-shoku-hi' in a legal or tax-related document. You are capable of interpreting and explaining the socio-economic impact of 'shokuhi' fluctuations on the 'Engel's Coefficient' of various demographic groups with nuanced precision, using a wide array of advanced grammatical structures and specialized vocabulary.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

食費 in 30 Seconds

Shokuhi (食費) means food expenses or costs in Japanese.
It is a noun used frequently in budgeting and daily life contexts.
Commonly paired with verbs like 'save' (setsuyaku) and 'keep down' (osaeru).
It covers both groceries bought at stores and meals at restaurants.

The Japanese word 食費 (shokuhi) is a fundamental noun that every learner moving into the intermediate (B1) level must master. It is composed of two kanji: 食 (shoku), meaning 'eat' or 'food,' and 費 (hi), meaning 'expense,' 'cost,' or 'expenditure.' Together, they literally translate to 'food expenses.' However, the usage of shokuhi extends beyond a simple price tag on a menu; it represents the broader category of financial resources allocated to nutrition, groceries, dining out, and overall sustenance within a household or personal budget.

Daily Household Management: In Japan, the concept of the Kakeibo (household account book) is deeply ingrained in the culture. When a person tallies their monthly spending, shokuhi is often the largest variable category. It includes everything from the milk bought at the konbini to the expensive Wagyu beef purchased for a special dinner.

一人暮らしを始めてから、食費を節約するようになりました。
(Since starting to live alone, I have started to save on food expenses.)

You will encounter this word most frequently in contexts involving financial planning, lifestyle discussions, and economic news. For instance, when the price of vegetables rises due to a typhoon, news anchors will discuss how this affects the shokuhi of average households. It is a neutral, practical term used by everyone from students trying to survive on ramen to corporate accountants discussing business meal allowances.

Distinction from Shokuji: It is crucial to distinguish shokuhi from shokuji (食事). While shokuji refers to the act of eating a meal or the meal itself, shokuhi refers strictly to the monetary cost. You 'eat' a shokuji, but you 'calculate' or 'reduce' your shokuhi.

Furthermore, shokuhi can be subdivided into gaishoku-hi (costs for eating out) and jisui-hi (costs for cooking at home, though the latter is less common than simply saying 'groceries'). In a professional context, if a company provides a 'meal allowance,' it might be referred to as shokuji-hojo, but the actual money spent by the employee is still their shokuhi.

Economic Indicators: In macroeconomics, 'Engel's Law' (エンゲルの係数) measures the percentage of shokuhi relative to total household income. A high Engel coefficient often indicates a lower standard of living because a larger portion of income must be spent on basic survival.

最近の物価高で、毎月の食費が１万円も増えてしまった。
(Due to recent price hikes, my monthly food expenses have increased by as much as 10,000 yen.)

Using 食費 (shokuhi) correctly requires understanding the verbs that typically follow it. Because it is an 'expense,' it behaves like other financial nouns such as yachin (rent) or koutsuuhi (transportation costs). You don't 'buy' shokuhi; you 'spend' it, 'save' it, or 'calculate' it.

Common Verb Pairings: 1. を抑える (o osaeru): To keep down/restrain food costs.
2. を削る (o keizuru): To cut back on food costs.
3. がかさむ (ga kasamu): For food costs to pile up or become heavy.
4. を浮かす (o ukasu): To save money on food (literally 'to make it float').

When discussing the amount of money, you use the particles ga or wa followed by adjectives like takai (high) or yasui (low). However, it is more natural to say shokuhi ga kakaru (food costs are incurred/expensive) rather than just shokuhi ga takai, although both are understood.

外食ばかりしていると、食費が予算を超えてしまう。
(If you do nothing but eat out, your food expenses will exceed the budget.)

In a sentence, shokuhi often acts as the subject of a financial struggle or a point of pride in household management. It can also be used as a compound noun, such as shokuhi-dai (money for food) or shokuhi-setsu-yaku (saving on food expenses).

Formal vs. Informal Contexts: In formal reports, you might see shoku-ryou-hi (食料費), which refers more specifically to the cost of raw food materials and ingredients, whereas shokuhi is the general term used in daily conversation and personal finance.

給料の半分が食費に消えていく。
(Half of my salary disappears into food expenses.)

The word 食費 (shokuhi) is omnipresent in Japanese life. If you walk into a bookstore, you will see entire sections dedicated to 'Setsuyaku' (saving money), with titles like 'How to keep your shokuhi under 20,000 yen a month.' This is a common topic of conversation among housewives, students, and young professionals alike.

At the Supermarket: While the word itself isn't usually on price tags, it's in the minds of the shoppers. You might hear someone say 'Kyo wa kaimono o hikaete, shokuhi o osaeyou' (Let's hold back on shopping today to keep food costs down) while browsing the aisles of Life or Seiyu.

主婦の間では、いかに食費を安く済ませるかが共通の話題だ。
(Among housewives, how to keep food expenses low is a common topic of conversation.)

Television variety shows often feature segments where a celebrity tries to live on a very limited budget for a week. The graphic on the screen will prominently display the remaining shokuhi in yen. This has made the word synonymous with the 'survival' aspect of daily life in Japan.

In the Workplace: When colleagues discuss moving to a new city or neighborhood, they might compare the 'bukka' (cost of living), specifically mentioning that 'shokuhi ga yasuku sumu' (you can get by with cheap food expenses) because there are many discount supermarkets nearby.

出張中の食費は会社が負担してくれる。
(The company covers food expenses during business trips.)

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is confusing 食費 (shokuhi) with other food-related terms. Because English uses 'food' as both a noun for the item and an adjective for the cost (e.g., 'food cost'), learners often try to use tabemono (food) where shokuhi is required.

Mistake 1: Shokuhi vs. Tabemono: You cannot say 'Tabemono no nedan ga takai' to mean 'My food expenses are high.' While 'the price of food is high' is grammatically correct, it refers to the market price of items. To talk about your personal budget, you must use shokuhi.

Another common mistake is the misuse of the verb 'to pay.' In English, we 'pay food expenses.' In Japanese, while you can say shokuhi o harau, it sounds more like you are paying a specific bill for a meal. When talking about the general outflow of money from your budget, shokuhi ni tsukau (spend on food) or shokuhi ga kakaru (food costs are incurred) is much more natural.

❌ 食べ物の費用を節約する。
✅ 食費を節約する。
(The first is redundant and awkward; the second is natural.)

The 'Hi' (費) Suffix Pitfall: Learners sometimes add 'hi' to every word to mean 'cost' (e.g., 'kuruma-hi' for car costs). This doesn't work. Each category has its own specific word. For food, it's always shokuhi. For transportation, it's koutsuuhi. Stick to the established compounds.

❌ 食費を食べる。
✅ 食費を計算する。
(You can't eat 'expenses'; you calculate them.)

To truly master the vocabulary of Japanese finance and daily life, you need to know how 食費 (shokuhi) compares to related terms. Depending on the nuance you want to convey—whether it's the cost of eating out, the cost of raw ingredients, or the cost of a specific meal—different words are used.

食費 (Shokuhi) vs. 外食費 (Gaishoku-hi): Shokuhi is the umbrella term. Gaishoku-hi specifically refers to the money spent at restaurants, cafes, or fast-food outlets. If you are trying to save money, you might say, 'Shokuhi o herasu tame ni, gaishoku-hi o osaemasu' (To reduce food expenses, I will limit dining out costs).
食費 (Shokuhi) vs. 食料費 (Shokuryou-hi): Shokuryou-hi is a more technical or academic term. It is used in government statistics or formal economic reports to describe the expenditure on food products. In daily life, using shokuryou-hi sounds overly stiff and robotic.
食費 (Shokuhi) vs. 食事代 (Shokuji-dai): Shokuji-dai is often used when talking about a specific instance or a short-term allowance. For example, 'Kyo no shokuji-dai' (Today's meal money). Shokuhi is better for a general category or a monthly total.

外食を控えると、食費が大幅に減ります。
(If you cut back on eating out, your food expenses will decrease significantly.)

Other related terms include Seikatsu-hi (living expenses), which includes shokuhi, yachin (rent), and suidou-kounetsu-hi (utilities). When someone says their 'Seikatsu-hi ga takai,' they are talking about their entire cost of living, not just what they eat.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The kanji 費 (Hi) contains the radical 貝 (shell), which was used as currency in ancient China, indicating its relation to money.

Pronunciation Guide

UK ʃo̞kɯᵝçi

US ʃoʊkuhi

Atamadaka (Initial stress) or Heiban (Flat), but usually perceived as flat in standard Japanese.

Rhymes With

Tokuhi (特費) Gakuhy (学費) Zappi (雑費) Ryohi (旅費) Kouhi (公費) Shihi (私費) Kaihi (会費) Kouhi (交費)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'ku' too clearly (it should be almost silent).
Stress on the 'hi' syllable.
Confusing 'hi' with 'pi'.
Long 'o' in 'sho'.
Vowel length errors.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Kanji are common but require knowledge of the 'Hi' suffix.

Writing 4/5

Writing 'Hi' (費) can be tricky for beginners due to many strokes.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to pronounce once 'ku' is mastered.

Listening 2/5

Clear and distinct word in conversation.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

食べるお金高い安い費用

Learn Next

生活費光熱費家賃節約予算

Advanced

消費者物価指数エンゲル係数可処分所得支出固定費

Grammar to Know

Noun + を抑える (o osaeru)

支出を抑える。 (Keep expenditures down.)

Noun + がかさむ (ga kasamu)

借金がかさむ。 (Debts pile up.)

Noun + を削る (o keizuru)

睡眠時間を削る。 (Cut back on sleep time.)

Noun + 込み (komi)

税込み。 (Tax included.)

Noun + 抜き (nuki)

わさび抜き。 (Without wasabi.)

Examples by Level

毎月の食費はいくらですか？

How much are your monthly food expenses?

Uses the basic 'wa ikura desu ka' structure.

食費は高いです。

Food expenses are high.

Simple noun + wa + adjective.

食費を払います。

I will pay the food expenses.

Basic 'o' particle usage with a verb.

これは食費です。

This is food money.

Simple 'kore wa ... desu' structure.

一日の食費は千円です。

One day's food expense is 1,000 yen.

Specifies a time period with 'no'.

食費がありません。

I have no food money.

Uses 'ga arimasen' for non-existence.

安い食費。

Cheap food expenses.

Adjective modifying a noun directly.

食費を計算します。

I calculate food expenses.

Basic verb 'keisan shimasu'.

食費を節約したいです。

I want to save on food expenses.

Uses 'tai' form for desire.

外食をすると食費がかかります。

If you eat out, it costs food money.

Uses the 'to' conditional.

先月の食費は三万円でした。

Last month's food expenses were 30,000 yen.

Past tense of 'desu'.

母が食費を管理しています。

My mother manages the food expenses.

Uses 'te-iru' for ongoing action.

食費のためにアルバイトをします。

I work a part-time job for food expenses.

Uses 'no tame ni' for purpose.

食費が足りません。

There isn't enough food money.

Uses 'tarimasen' (not enough).

食費を安く済ませる方法。

A way to keep food expenses cheap.

Uses 'sumaseru' (to finish/get by).

毎日の食費をメモします。

I take notes on daily food expenses.

Uses 'memo shimasu'.

自炊をすれば、食費を大幅に抑えられます。

If you cook for yourself, you can significantly keep food expenses down.

Uses potential form 'osaerareru'.

最近は物価が上がって、食費が負担になっています。

Recently prices have risen, and food expenses are becoming a burden.

Uses 'te-form' for cause and effect.

一人暮らしの食費の平均はどのくらいですか？

What is the average food expense for living alone?

Uses 'heikin' (average).

旅行に行くために、今月は食費を削っています。

In order to go on a trip, I am cutting back on food expenses this month.

Uses 'keizuru' (to cut/shave off).

食費を浮かすために、お弁当を作っています。

I make lunch boxes to save (spare) food money.

Uses the expression 'shokuhi o ukasu'.

給料の二割が食費に消えてしまいます。

20% of my salary disappears into food expenses.

Uses 'te-shimau' for regrettable action.

食費の予算を決めてから買い物に行きます。

I go shopping after deciding on a food budget.

Uses 'te-kara' for sequence.

外食費を減らせば、食費全体が安くなります。

If you reduce dining-out costs, overall food expenses will become cheaper.

Uses 'ba' conditional.

食費を節約するコツは、まとめ買いをすることです。

The trick to saving on food expenses is buying in bulk.

Uses 'koto da' for advice/definition.

インフレの影響で、食費が家計を圧迫しています。

Due to inflation, food expenses are putting pressure on the household budget.

Uses 'appaku suru' (to pressure).

健康を考えると、食費を削りすぎるのも良くない。

Considering health, cutting food expenses too much is also not good.

Uses 'sugiru' (too much).

食費には、お酒や飲み物の代金も含まれますか？

Do food expenses include the cost of alcohol and drinks?

Uses 'fukumareru' (to be included).

食費を抑えるために、見切り品を狙って買い物をする。

In order to keep food costs down, I shop for clearance items.

Uses 'neratte' (aiming for).

毎月の食費をグラフにして可視化しています。

I am visualizing my monthly food expenses by making a graph.

Uses 'kashika' (visualization).

食費の変動は、季節ごとの野菜の価格に左右される。

Fluctuations in food expenses are influenced by seasonal vegetable prices.

Uses 'sayuu sareru' (to be influenced).

共働きの家庭では、手間を省くために食費が高くなる傾向がある。

In dual-income households, food expenses tend to be higher to save effort.

Uses 'keinkou ga aru' (tendency).

食費の増大は、低所得者層にとって深刻な問題だ。

The increase in food expenses is a serious problem for the low-income bracket.

Uses formal 'da' and 'zoudai' (increase).

エンゲル係数とは、家計の支出に占める食費の割合のことだ。

Engel's coefficient is the ratio of food expenses to household expenditure.

Uses 'ni shimeru' (to occupy/account for).

食費の構成内容を分析し、無駄な支出を特定する。

Analyze the components of food expenses and identify wasteful spending.

Uses 'bunseki' and 'tokutei'.

政府は食費の高騰を抑えるための対策を講じている。

The government is taking measures to curb the soaring food prices.

Uses 'koutou' (soaring) and 'measures'.

食費を単なるコストではなく、健康への投資と捉える。

View food expenses not just as a cost, but as an investment in health.

Uses 'toraeru' (to perceive/view).

都市部と地方では、食費の物価水準に大きな開きがある。

There is a large gap in the price level of food expenses between urban and rural areas.

Uses 'bukka suijun' and 'hiraki'.

食費の支払いにポイント還元を最大限に活用する。

Maximize the use of point rewards for paying food expenses.

Uses 'katsuyou' (utilization).

食生活の欧米化に伴い、食費の内訳も変化してきた。

With the Westernization of eating habits, the breakdown of food expenses has also changed.

Uses 'ni tomonai' (along with).

食費の抑制が、国民の栄養状態に及ぼす影響を懸念する。

Concern about the impact that the suppression of food expenses has on the nutritional status of the nation.

Uses 'oyobosu' (to exert/impact).

持続可能な社会の実現には、食費の適正な価格形成が不可欠である。

Appropriate price formation of food expenses is essential for achieving a sustainable society.

Uses 'fukaketsu' (indispensable).

食費の推移を長期的に観察することで、消費者の心理が見えてくる。

By observing the transition of food expenses over the long term, consumer psychology becomes visible.

Uses 'suii' (transition/trend).

食費の削減が過度に進むと、国内の農業基盤を揺るがしかねない。

If the reduction of food expenses progresses excessively, it could potentially shake the domestic agricultural foundation.

Uses 'kanenai' (could possibly result in).

デフレ脱却を目指す中で、食費の上昇は複雑な意味合いを持つ。

In the aim to escape deflation, the rise in food expenses holds complex implications.

Uses 'imi-ai' (implications/nuance).

食費の配分における世代間の格差が浮き彫りになっている。

The intergenerational gap in the allocation of food expenses is becoming prominent.

Uses 'ukibori ni naru' (to stand out).

食費という項目一つとっても、その背景には多層的な社会構造が存在する。

Even taking a single item like food expenses, a multilayered social structure exists in its background.

Uses 'tatta hitotsu totte mo'.

食費の最適化は、単なる節約術を超えた生活の質（QOL）の向上に直結する。

Optimizing food expenses goes beyond mere saving techniques and directly links to the improvement of Quality of Life (QOL).

Uses 'chokketsu suru' (to be directly linked).

Synonyms

飲食費食料費食事代外食費賄い費糧食費食代給食費

Antonyms

収入貯金他費不費

Common Collocations

食費を節約する

食費を抑える

食費がかさむ

食費を削る

食費が浮く

食費の平均

食費の予算

食費を管理する

食費に充てる

食費がかかる

Common Phrases

食費込み

— Including food expenses. Often seen in rental or travel packages.

このツアーは食費込みの料金です。

食費別

— Food expenses not included. Used in contracts or plans.

家賃は安いが、食費は別だ。

食費月三万円

— Food expenses of 30,000 yen per month. A common benchmark for saving.

食費月三万円で生活するコツ。

食費の節約術

— Techniques for saving on food costs.

テレビで食費の節約術を紹介していた。

食費貧乏

— Being poor because of spending too much on food.

外食ばかりで食費貧乏になっている。

食費補助

— Meal allowance or subsidy from a company.

福利厚生として食費補助が出る。

食費の負担

— The burden of food expenses.

大家族では食費の負担が大きい。

食費を切り詰める

— To cut food expenses to the absolute minimum.

生活が苦しくて食費を切り詰めている。

食費がかからない

— Doesn't cost much for food.

実家暮らしは食費がかからない。

食費に消える

— Money disappears into food costs.

バイト代が全部食費に消える。

Often Confused With

食費 vs 食事

Shokuji is the meal itself; Shokuhi is the cost of the meal.

食費 vs 食料

Shokuryou is the physical food ingredients; Shokuhi is the money spent on them.

食費 vs 学費

Gakuhi is tuition; Shokuhi is food. Both end in 'hi' (cost).

Idioms & Expressions

"食費を浮かす"

— To save money on food, often through clever means or luck.

クーポンを使って食費を浮かす。

Neutral

"食に窮する"

— To be so poor that one cannot afford food (more formal/literary).

食に窮する人々を助ける。

Formal

"衣食住"

— The basic necessities: clothing, food, and shelter.

衣食住が足りていれば幸せだ。

Neutral

"食い倒れ"

— To ruin oneself by extravagance in food (famous in Osaka).

大阪は食い倒れの街だ。

Casual

"食い扶持"

— One's keep; the cost of one's food/living.

自分の食い扶持くらいは自分で稼げ。

Informal

"口を糊する"

— To barely make a living; to scrape by for food.

内職で口を糊する。

Literary

"箸にも棒にもかからない"

— Completely useless (unrelated to cost, but uses food tools).

彼の提案は箸にも棒にもかからない。

Neutral

"腹を肥やす"

— To enrich oneself (often through corruption).

役人が私腹を肥やす。

Formal

"食指が動く"

— To feel an appetite for something; to be interested.

その計画には食指が動かない。

Neutral

"同じ釜の飯を食う"

— To live together/share experiences (like a family/team).

彼とは同じ釜の飯を食った仲だ。

Neutral

Easily Confused

食費 vs 飲食費

Both involve eating costs.

Inshokuhi explicitly includes drinks/alcohol and is more formal.

交際費と飲食費を分ける。

食費 vs 食料費

Both use the 'food' kanji.

Shokuryouhi is technical/statistical; Shokuhi is personal/daily.

食料費指数の変動。

食費 vs 食事代

Both mean 'money for food'.

Shokujidai is for a specific event; Shokuhi is for a general category.

昨日の食事代を返す。

食費 vs 生活費

One is part of the other.

Seikatsuhi is the total cost of living; Shokuhi is just the food part.

生活費の中に食費も入っている。

食費 vs 雑費

Both are budget categories.

Zappi is miscellaneous; Shokuhi is specifically food.

食費以外の雑費が多い。

Sentence Patterns

[Time] の食費は [Amount] です。

一ヶ月の食費は三万円です。

食費を [Verb-tai] です。

食費を節約したいです。

食費を抑えるために [Action]。

食費を抑えるために自炊をします。

[Cause] で食費がかさむ。

外食が多くて食費がかさむ。

食費が家計に占める割合は [Percentage] だ。

食費が家計に占める割合は二十パーセントだ。

食費の抑制が [Effect] を招く。

食費の抑制が健康被害を招く。

食費を [Amount] 以内に収める。

食費を月二万円以内に収める。

食費に [Category] は含まれない。

食費にお酒は含まれない。

Word Family

Nouns

食 (Food)

費用 (Expense)

食料 (Ingredients)

食器 (Tableware)

食卓 (Dining table)

Verbs

食べる (To eat)

費やす (To spend/consume)

食す (To eat - formal)

食い入る (To eat into)

Adjectives

食べやすい (Easy to eat)

食べがたい (Hard to eat)

食いしん坊 (Gluttonous)

学費 (Tuition)

旅費 (Travel costs)

生活費 (Living costs)

光熱費 (Utility costs)

雑費 (Misc costs)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely common in daily life and financial news.

Common Mistakes

Using 'tabemono-hi' → 食費 (shokuhi)
There is no word 'tabemono-hi'. Always use the Sino-Japanese compound 'shokuhi'.
Saying 'shokuhi o taberu' → 食事を食べる (shokuji o taberu)
You eat a meal (shokuji), you don't eat an expense (shokuhi).
Confusing with 'shokuryou' → 食費 (shokuhi)
Shokuryou refers to the food items themselves, not the cost category.
Using 'shokuhi o kau' → 食材を買う (shokuzai o kau)
You buy ingredients (shokuzai), not 'food expenses'.
Saying 'shokuhi ga yasui' → 食費が安い (shokuhi ga yasui) is okay, but 'shokuhi o osaete iru' is more natural.
Saying expenses are 'cheap' is understandable, but saying they are 'low' or 'suppressed' is more native.

Tips

Bento Power

Making a bento is the #1 way Japanese people save on shokuhi. It can save you 500-1000 yen per day!

Evening Discounts

Supermarkets discount prepared foods (osazu) significantly after 7 PM or 8 PM. This is a great 'shokuhi' saving hack.

Particle Choice

Use 'ni' when saying how much you spend: 'Shokuhi ni san-man-en tsukau' (Spend 30,000 yen ON food).

Compound Words

Learn 'gaishoku-hi' (eating out) and 'jisui' (home cooking) alongside 'shokuhi' for better expression.

Kakeibo Apps

Download a Kakeibo app like Zaim. Seeing '食費' every day will cement the word in your brain.

Small Talk

Asking 'Shokuhi, dore kurai kakeru?' is a common way to talk about lifestyle with friends.

News Keywords

Look for '物価高' (rising prices) in headlines; '食費' is almost always mentioned nearby.

Kanji Practice

The kanji '費' is used in many words. Master it now and you'll know 'travel cost,' 'tuition,' and 'utility cost' later.

Variety Shows

Watch Japanese variety shows about 'setsuyaku' (saving). They use 'shokuhi' constantly with big on-screen text.

Budget Goals

Set a weekly 'shokuhi' goal in yen. Thinking in the target language helps with immersion.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Shoku' (Shock) because the 'Hi' (High) food costs gave you a shock!

Visual Association

Imagine a grocery bag with a giant yen symbol and the kanji 食費 written on the side.

Word Web

Budget Groceries Dining Out Money Kitchen Supermarket Receipt Savings

Challenge

Try to track your daily food spending in Japanese for one week using only the word '食費' in your notes.

Word Origin

Compound of Middle Chinese-derived kanji 'Shoku' (eat) and 'Hi' (expenditure).

Original meaning: The price or expenditure required for food.

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

Cultural Context

Be sensitive when discussing shokuhi with others, as it can be a sign of financial status. Asking 'How much is your shokuhi?' is common among close friends but might be too personal for acquaintances.

In English, we say 'grocery bill' or 'food budget.' 'Shokuhi' covers both.

The TV show 'Ikinari! Ougon Densetsu' featured the '10,000 yen for a month' challenge, focusing heavily on shokuhi. Kakeibo: The Japanese Art of Saving Money by Hani Motoko. Cooking manga like 'Yesterday's Dinner' (Kinou Nani Tabeta?) often discuss shokuhi.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Household Budgeting

食費を節約する
家計簿をつける
食費の予算
やりくりする

Supermarket Shopping

安い食材を選ぶ
まとめ買いをする
見切り品を買う
ポイントを貯める

Dining Out

外食を控える
ランチ代を抑える
割り勘にする
クーポンを使う

Economic News

物価上昇の影響
食料品の値上げ
家計への負担
家計調査

Student Life

自炊で食費を浮かす
学食を利用する
仕送りでやりくりする
もやし生活

Conversation Starters

"最近、食費が高くなって困っていませんか？ (Aren't you troubled by food costs getting higher lately?)"

"一ヶ月の食費の予算はいくらに設定していますか？ (How much do you set for your monthly food budget?)"

"食費を節約するために、何か工夫していることはありますか？ (Is there anything you're doing to save on food expenses?)"

"外食と自炊、どちらが食費がかからないと思いますか？ (Which do you think costs less for food: eating out or cooking for yourself?)"

"日本の食費は、あなたの国と比べて高いですか、安いですか？ (Are food expenses in Japan higher or lower compared to your country?)"

Journal Prompts

今月の食費を振り返って、無駄遣いをしたかどうか書いてみましょう。 (Reflect on this month's food expenses and write about whether you wasted money.)

理想的な一ヶ月の食費の配分について考えてみてください。 (Think about the ideal allocation of your monthly food expenses.)

食費を節約しながら美味しく食べる方法を提案してください。 (Propose ways to eat deliciously while saving on food expenses.)

物価が上がったことで、あなたの食生活や食費はどう変わりましたか？ (How has your eating habit or food expense changed due to rising prices?)

将来、家族が増えたときの食費について想像して書いてみましょう。 (Imagine and write about the food expenses when your family increases in the future.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It depends on the individual. In a strict sense, alcohol is often categorized as 'luxury items' (shikou-hin), but many people include it in their 'shokuhi' category in their household account books. If you want to be specific, you can use 'inshokuhi'.

On average, a university student living alone spends about 25,000 to 35,000 yen per month on 'shokuhi.' This varies greatly depending on how much they cook for themselves (jisui) versus eating out (gaishoku).

Usually, 'shokuhi' is used for humans. For pets, people often say 'esa-dai' (bait/feed money) or 'petto-no-gohan-dai.' However, in a budget app, it might be categorized under 'pet-hi'.

In a business context, if the company is paying, it is often called 'kousai-hi' (entertainment expenses) or 'kaigi-hi' (meeting expenses), even if food is served. 'Shokuhi' is more for personal sustenance.

You can say 'Shokuhi o herashitai desu' or more naturally, 'Shokuhi o setsuyaku shitai desu.' Both are perfectly correct.

'Shokuji-hi' is rarely used. It's either 'shokuhi' (general category) or 'shokuji-dai' (specific meal cost). Stick to 'shokuhi' for your budget.

Yes, it is a neutral noun. You can use it in formal settings, with your boss, or with friends. It doesn't have a particularly casual or stiff nuance.

Not exactly. You would say 'o-kaikei' (the check) or 'shokuji-dai.' You use 'shokuhi' to describe where that money *comes from* in your budget.

No, cleaning supplies like dish soap are usually categorized as 'nichiyou-zappi' (daily miscellaneous goods) or 'shoumou-hin' (consumables).

Remember 'Shoku' from 'taberu' (eat) and 'Hi' from 'hiyou' (cost). The bottom of 'Hi' is the shell radical, which means money!