受給

The Japanese word 受給 (jukyuu) is a formal noun that translates to the act of receiving payments, benefits, or services, typically from a government, insurance company, or large organization. It is a highly specific term used almost exclusively in administrative, legal, and bureaucratic contexts. When you break down the kanji, you get a clear picture of its meaning. The first character, 受 (ju), means 'to receive' or 'to accept,' as seen in words like 受験 (juken - taking an exam) or 受け取る (uketoru - to receive). The second character, 給 (kyuu), means 'salary,' 'wage,' 'supply,' or 'provision,' which appears in words like 給料 (kyuuryou - salary) or 供給 (kyoukyuu - supply). Together, they form a word that literally means 'receiving a provision' or 'receiving a salary/benefit.' This word is essential for anyone living in Japan, as it appears on numerous official documents, especially those related to social security, pensions, unemployment benefits, and child allowances. Understanding this word is a key step in navigating Japanese bureaucracy and ensuring you receive the support you are entitled to.

Literal Meaning

受 (receive) + 給 (provision/salary) = Receiving provisions or benefits.

In everyday conversation, people might use simpler phrases like もらう (morau - to receive) or 受け取る (uketoru - to receive). However, when discussing official matters, 受給 is the standard term. For example, instead of saying '年金をもらう' (nenkin o morau - receive a pension), news anchors, government officials, and formal documents will use '年金を受給する' (nenkin o jukyuu suru). This distinction is crucial for learners aiming for advanced proficiency or those who need to handle their own administrative affairs in Japan. The word can function as a noun, but it is most commonly used as a suru-verb (受給する - to receive benefits). It is also frequently combined with other words to form compound nouns, such as 受給者 (jukyuusha - recipient), 受給資格 (jukyuu shikaku - eligibility to receive), and 受給額 (jukyuugaku - amount received).

Common Compound

受給者 (jukyuusha) - The person who receives the benefits (recipient).

It is important to note that 受給 is strictly directional. It only refers to the act of the recipient getting the funds. The opposite action—the government or organization providing the funds—is called 支給 (shikyuu). Confusing these two is a common mistake among learners. If you are the one getting the money, you are the 受給者 (recipient). If the company is giving the money, they are handling the 支給 (provision). This dynamic is a fundamental aspect of Japanese formal vocabulary, where the direction of action is explicitly coded into the kanji used. Furthermore, the concept of 受給 is deeply tied to Japan's social security system (社会保障制度 - shakai hoshou seido). As Japan faces an aging population (少子高齢化 - shoushi koureika), terms like 年金受給 (nenkin jukyuu - pension reception) and 介護保険受給 (kaigo hoken jukyuu - receiving nursing care insurance) appear daily in the news, making this word indispensable for reading comprehension at the B1 level and above.

Directional Contrast

受給 (receiving) vs. 支給 (providing/paying out).

Finally, the term is also used in the context of illegal or fraudulent activities. The phrase 不正受給 (fusei jukyuu) refers to the fraudulent receipt of benefits, such as claiming unemployment while secretly working, or continuing to claim a deceased relative's pension. This phrase is a staple in crime reporting and legal warnings. Understanding the full scope of 受給—from its basic meaning of receiving funds to its complex legal implications—provides a profound insight into the intersection of language, law, and society in Japan. Whether you are filling out a form at the local ward office (区役所 - kuyakusho), reading a news article about economic policies, or studying for the JLPT N2 or N1, mastering the usage, nuances, and collocations of 受給 will significantly enhance your Japanese proficiency and cultural literacy.

Using 受給 (jukyuu) correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical function and the specific contexts in which it is appropriate. As a noun, it represents the concept of receiving benefits. However, its most frequent application is as a Group 3 verb (suru-verb), formed by attaching する (suru) to the end: 受給する (jukyuu suru). This verb is transitive, meaning it takes a direct object, which is marked by the particle を (o). The object is almost always a type of official financial support, such as 年金 (nenkin - pension), 失業保険 (shitsugyou hoken - unemployment insurance), 生活保護 (seikatsu hogo - welfare/livelihood protection), or 奨学金 (shougakukin - scholarship). You will rarely, if ever, see 受給 used with everyday objects like presents, letters, or standard salaries from an employer. For a standard salary, you would simply say 給料をもらう (kyuuryou o morau). 受給 is reserved for systemic, institutional payouts.

Basic Verb Structure

[Benefit] + を + 受給する

When constructing sentences, it is also crucial to know the associated compound nouns, as they are used extensively in administrative Japanese. If you want to talk about the person receiving the money, you add the suffix 者 (sha - person) to make 受給者 (jukyuusha). If you are discussing the right or qualification to receive the money, you use 受給資格 (jukyuu shikaku - eligibility). If you are referring to the specific amount of money received, you use 受給額 (jukyuugaku). These compounds act as standalone nouns and are often followed by particles like が (ga) or は (wa) when they are the subject of a sentence. For instance, '受給資格があります' (jukyuu shikaku ga arimasu) means 'You have the eligibility to receive benefits.' This modular nature of kanji makes it easy to expand your vocabulary once you understand the base word.

Compound: Eligibility

受給資格 (jukyuu shikaku) - Often paired with the verbs 得る (eru - to obtain) or 満たす (mitasu - to satisfy).

Another important grammatical aspect is the use of the passive voice or causative forms, though they are less common than the active form. Since 受給 already implies receiving, you do not need to use the passive form to indicate that you are being given something. Saying '受給される' (jukyuu sareru) is generally incorrect or highly unnatural when referring to the recipient's action. Instead, the active form '受給する' is used. If you want to express that the government is providing the money, you switch to the antonym 支給 (shikyuu) and say '政府が支給する' (seifu ga shikyuu suru - the government provides). Understanding this active/passive dynamic is vital for avoiding awkward phrasing. Furthermore, in polite or humble speech (Keigo), you might hear variations, but the core word remains the same. A city hall worker might ask, '年金を受給されていますか？' (Nenkin o jukyuu sarete imasu ka? - Are you receiving a pension?), using the respectful form of the state of being (されている).

Honorific Usage

受給されていますか (jukyuu sarete imasu ka) - Polite way to ask if someone is receiving benefits.

In written Japanese, particularly in newspapers and official notices, 受給 is often part of a dense string of kanji (熟語 - jukugo). You might encounter phrases like '年金受給開始年齢' (nenkin jukyuu kaishi nenrei - the age at which pension reception begins). While this looks intimidating, breaking it down into its components (Pension + Receive + Start + Age) makes it perfectly logical. When writing emails or formal letters inquiring about benefits, using 受給 demonstrates a high level of language competence and ensures your request is taken seriously. For example, '奨学金の受給について質問があります' (Shougakukin no jukyuu ni tsuite shitsumon ga arimasu - I have a question regarding the receipt of the scholarship) is the perfect, natural way to address a university administration office. Mastering the usage of 受給 is not just about vocabulary; it's about adopting the appropriate register for bureaucratic and formal interactions in Japanese society.

The word 受給 (jukyuu) is ubiquitous in specific environments in Japan, primarily those dealing with administration, finance, and social welfare. The most common place you will encounter this word is at the local municipal office, known as the 市役所 (shiyakusho - city hall) or 区役所 (kuyakusho - ward office). If you are a resident in Japan, you will inevitably have to visit these offices to handle paperwork related to health insurance, taxes, and various allowances. For instance, if you have a child, you will apply for 児童手当 (jidou teate - child allowance), and the forms will repeatedly use the term 受給 to refer to your status as the recipient. The staff at the counter will ask you questions using this word, and the instructional pamphlets you receive will be filled with compounds like 受給資格 (eligibility) and 受給者証 (recipient certificate). It is the absolute standard terminology in this setting.

Location: City Hall

Used extensively in forms and consultations regarding municipal benefits.

Another major context where 受給 is frequently heard is in the news media. Japanese television news programs, newspapers like the Yomiuri Shimbun or Asahi Shimbun, and economic journals use this word daily. Japan's rapidly aging population makes the national pension system (国民年金 - kokumin nenkin) a constant topic of political debate and public concern. News anchors will discuss the '年金受給者' (nenkin jukyuusha - pension recipients) and the '受給開始年齢' (jukyuu kaishi nenrei - age to start receiving pensions). Furthermore, during times of economic hardship or crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the government often issues special subsidies or relief funds (給付金 - kyuufukin). The news will report on the conditions required to '受給する' these funds, the deadlines for application, and unfortunately, cases of '不正受給' (fusei jukyuu - fraudulent receipt) where individuals or companies illegally claim money they are not entitled to.

Context: News Media

Frequently used in reports about pensions, welfare, and government subsidies.

You will also hear and read this word in the context of employment and human resources (人事 - jinji). When you leave a job in Japan, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance, commonly referred to as 失業保険 (shitsugyou hoken) or officially as 雇用保険 (koyou hoken). To receive this, you must visit the public employment security office, known as Hello Work (ハローワーク). The entire process at Hello Work revolves around establishing your 受給資格 (eligibility to receive) and attending mandatory meetings to maintain your status as a 受給者 (recipient). The staff will explain the rules regarding how many days of benefits you can 受給する based on your previous employment history. Similarly, within a company, the HR department might use this word when discussing maternity leave benefits (出産手当金 - shussan teatekin) or childcare leave benefits (育児休業給付金 - ikuji kyuugyou kyuufukin) with employees.

Location: Hello Work

The standard term for receiving unemployment benefits.

Finally, the academic and educational sectors utilize this word heavily, particularly concerning scholarships and financial aid. In Japan, a scholarship is called 奨学金 (shougakukin). Organizations like the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) provide these funds, and students who receive them are called 奨学金受給者 (shougakukin jukyuusha). University financial aid offices will issue documents like a 受給証明書 (jukyuu shoumeisho - certificate of receipt) which students may need for various administrative purposes, such as renting an apartment or applying for visa renewals. In all these contexts—municipal offices, national news, employment centers, and universities—the word 受給 carries a tone of officialdom, legality, and systemic structure. It is not a word of casual street slang, but rather a pillar of the formal Japanese lexicon that governs the relationship between the individual and the state or institution.

When learning the word 受給 (jukyuu), students often make several predictable mistakes, usually stemming from a misunderstanding of its specific nuances, its directional nature, or its formal register. The most glaring and frequent mistake is confusing 受給 (jukyuu - receiving) with its exact opposite, 支給 (shikyuu - providing/paying). Because both words share the kanji 給 (kyuu - provision/salary) and sound somewhat similar, learners often mix them up. Remember: 受給 is what the citizen or employee does; 支給 is what the government or company does. If you say '会社が私にボーナスを受給した' (The company 'received' a bonus to me), it makes no sense and sounds completely unnatural. The correct phrasing is '会社が私にボーナスを支給した' (The company provided a bonus to me). Conversely, you would say '私がボーナスを受給した' (I received the bonus). Getting the direction of the transaction wrong is a critical error that can cause significant confusion in business or official settings.

Mistake: Directionality

Using 受給 when the subject is the provider, not the receiver.

Another common mistake is using 受給 in casual or inappropriate contexts. 受給 is a highly formal word reserved for official, institutional, or governmental benefits. It should never be used for receiving physical gifts, casual favors, or even standard everyday transactions. For example, if a friend gives you a birthday present, saying 'プレゼントを受給しました' (I received the present - using jukyuu) sounds incredibly robotic, overly bureaucratic, and frankly, quite strange. It sounds as if you filled out a government form to get the birthday gift. In such casual situations, you must use the standard verbs もらう (morau) or the humble いただく (itadaku). Similarly, you wouldn't use 受給 for receiving an email, a package from Amazon, or advice. Its usage is strictly fenced within the domain of financial benefits, pensions, allowances, and formal subsidies.

Mistake: Register/Context

Using 受給 for everyday gifts or non-official items.

A third area of confusion involves grammatical structure, specifically the use of passive voice. Because 受給 translates to 'receiving,' learners sometimes feel the need to put it into the passive form to emphasize that something was given to them. They might write '年金が受給される' (The pension is received). While grammatically possible and occasionally seen in highly detached, objective writing (like a textbook describing a system), it is often awkward when describing a personal action. It is much more natural to use the active voice: '年金を受給する' (I receive a pension). The kanji 受 (receive) already contains the passive concept of being the recipient, so adding the passive grammatical conjugation is usually redundant and makes the sentence unnecessarily clunky. Stick to the active form when you are the subject doing the receiving.

Mistake: Redundant Passive

Overusing the passive form 受給される instead of the active 受給する.

Lastly, learners sometimes pair 受給 with the wrong types of official things. While it is used for money and benefits, it is not used for receiving permission, licenses, or abstract rights, even if they come from the government. For example, you do not '受給' a driver's license (運転免許 - unten menkyo) or a building permit (建築許可 - kenchiku kyoka). For licenses and permits, you use verbs like 取得する (shutoku suru - to acquire), 得る (eru - to obtain), or 受ける (ukeru - to receive/undergo). 受給 is strictly tied to the 給 (kyuu) part of the word, which implies a provision, supply, or payment—almost always monetary or a direct material benefit like rations. By keeping these boundaries in mind—ensuring the correct direction, maintaining the formal register, avoiding redundant passives, and restricting it to financial/material benefits—you can avoid the common pitfalls and use 受給 with native-like precision.

The Japanese language is rich with vocabulary related to receiving, giving, and official transactions. Understanding the nuances between 受給 (jukyuu) and its synonyms is essential for mastering formal Japanese. One of the most common similar words is 受け取る (uketoru). This is a versatile, everyday verb that means 'to receive' or 'to accept.' Unlike 受給, which is restricted to official benefits, 受け取る can be used for almost anything: receiving a package, a letter, a message, or even a literal interpretation of a statement. If you receive your pension in cash at a bank counter, you physically '受け取る' the money, but your systemic status is that you '受給する' the pension. 受け取る focuses on the physical or immediate act of taking something into your possession, whereas 受給 focuses on the official, institutional right and process of being provided with a benefit.

受け取る (uketoru)

General term for receiving physical items, messages, or money. Less formal than 受給.

Another closely related term is 受領 (juryou). This is a highly formal noun that also means 'receipt' or 'receiving.' It is often used in business contexts, such as acknowledging the receipt of an invoice, a formal document, or goods. You will frequently see it on official receipts (受領書 - juryousho). The key difference is that 受領 is about acknowledging that a transaction has occurred or a document has arrived, while 受給 is specifically about receiving an ongoing or systemic benefit, usually from the state or an insurance body. You would '受領' a contract from a business partner, but you would '受給' unemployment benefits from the government. Both are formal, but their domains of application are distinct: 受領 belongs to business and document tracking, while 受給 belongs to social security and welfare.

受領 (juryou)

Formal receipt of documents, goods, or business items. Used for acknowledgment.

Then there is the everyday verb もらう (morau), which is the most basic way to say 'to receive' in Japanese. It is used in casual conversation for everything from receiving a gift to having someone do a favor for you (verb-te + morau). While you can technically say '年金をもらう' (I get a pension) in a casual chat with a friend, it lacks the administrative precision and formality of '年金を受給する'. もらう is perfectly fine for daily life, but it should be avoided in formal writing, official inquiries, or news reporting. Another similar concept is 取得 (shutoku), which means 'acquisition' or 'obtaining.' While you might 'acquire' a qualification (資格を取得する) that makes you eligible for a benefit, you do not 'acquire' the benefit itself in the same way; you receive (受給) it. 取得 implies an active effort to gain something, like studying for a license, whereas 受給 implies meeting conditions to be granted a provision.

もらう (morau)

Casual, everyday verb for receiving. Not suitable for formal documents.

Finally, we must mention 支給 (shikyuu) again, as it is the antonym but belongs to the exact same semantic field. 支給 means 'provision' or 'payment' from the perspective of the organization giving the money. A company '支給する' (provides) a travel allowance (交通費 - koutsuuhi) to its employees. The government '支給する' (provides) child benefits. Understanding the pairing of 支給 (giving the benefit) and 受給 (receiving the benefit) is the ultimate key to mastering this vocabulary subset. By distinguishing 受給 from general receiving (受け取る), business receipt (受領), casual receiving (もらう), active acquisition (取得), and the act of providing (支給), you build a highly precise and native-like mental map of Japanese formal vocabulary, allowing you to navigate both conversations and complex documents with confidence.