When you want to talk about saving money or cutting down on expenses, the verb to use is 節約する (setsuyaku suru).
It means to economize or be thrifty with your resources. You can use it in various situations, like saving electricity, water, or food.
For example, if you're trying to save money on your groceries, you might say,「食費を節約する」(Shokuhi o setsuyaku suru - I'm saving on food expenses).
It's a really useful verb to know for daily life in Japan!
§ Understanding 節約する in Context
You've learned that 節約する (せつやくする) means 'to save money' or 'to economize.' Now let's look at where you'll actually encounter this word in everyday Japanese life. This isn't just a textbook word; it's something you'll hear in many different situations, from casual chats to more formal discussions.
§ At Work: Business and Budgeting
In a work environment, 節約する is often used when discussing company budgets, project costs, or general operational efficiency. Businesses, just like individuals, need to be mindful of expenses.
- Common Workplace Usage
- You'll hear managers or team leaders talk about 経費を節約する (けいひをせつやくする - to cut expenses) or コストを節約する (コストをせつやくする - to save on costs). This is a practical way to manage resources.
今月のオフィス用品はもう少し節約する必要がありますね。
Translation hint: "This month, we need to save a bit more on office supplies."
電気代を節約するために、使わない部屋の電気は消しましょう。
Translation hint: "Let's turn off the lights in unused rooms to save on electricity."
§ At School: Student Life and Managing Resources
For students, 節約する is a very common topic, especially when living on a budget. You'll hear it in conversations about daily expenses, tuition, or saving for future goals.
- Student Budgeting
- Students often talk about how they are trying to 節約する to buy textbooks, go on a trip, or just make ends meet. It's a key part of independent living.
来月の旅行のために、今週から食費を節約しています。
Translation hint: "I'm saving on food expenses from this week for next month's trip."
新しいパソコンを買うために、バイト代を節約しています。
Translation hint: "I'm saving my part-time job earnings to buy a new computer."
§ In the News: Economic and Social Issues
When you read or watch the news in Japanese, particularly economic or social reports, you'll see 節約する quite often. It's used to describe broader trends or government initiatives.
- National and Global Context
- News articles might discuss how companies are economizing due to a recession, or how citizens are encouraged to save energy during a power shortage. It has a significant role in public discourse.
燃料価格の高騰により、各家庭でガソリンを節約する動きが広がっています。
Translation hint: "Due to soaring fuel prices, there's a growing trend for households to save on gasoline."
政府は、公共事業の費用を節約する方針を示しました。
Translation hint: "The government announced a policy to cut expenses for public works projects."
Understanding these common contexts will help you not only recognize 節約する but also use it naturally in your own Japanese conversations. It’s a very practical word to know!
Fun Fact
The character '節' (setsu) means 'joint' or 'node', and by extension 'moderation' or 'to regulate'. The character '約' (yaku) means 'promise' or 'to tie down', and by extension 'to economize' or 'to reduce'.
Examples by Level
毎日水を節約しています。
Every day, I save water.
電気を節約するために、部屋を出るときは電気を消します。
To save electricity, I turn off the lights when I leave the room.
彼は節約するのが上手です。
He is good at saving money.
食費を節約するために、自炊しています。
To save on food expenses, I cook for myself.
もっと節約する必要があります。
I need to save more.
節約は大切です。
Saving is important.
彼女はいつもお金を節約しています。
She is always saving money.
交通費を節約するために、自転車を使っています。
To save on transportation costs, I use a bicycle.
How to Use It
When you want to express the idea of saving money, 節約する (setsuyaku suru) is the most common and natural verb to use. It specifically refers to being economical and cutting down on expenses. You might hear it in contexts like saving on electricity bills, food costs, or general living expenses. For example, you could say:
- 電気代を節約する (denkidai o setsuyaku suru): to save on electricity bills
- 食費を節約する (shokuhi o setsuyaku suru): to save on food expenses
- 光熱費を節約する (kounetsuhi o setsuyaku suru): to save on utility bills (light and heat)
A common mistake for English speakers is to overuse 貯金する (chokin suru) when they mean to save money in the sense of economizing. While 貯金する also means 'to save money,' it specifically refers to putting money aside, usually in a bank account. 節約する, on the other hand, means to reduce spending.
Think of it this way:
- You 節約する your electricity by turning off lights. (You reduce your spending on electricity.)
- You 貯金する some of your salary each month. (You put money into savings.)
Word Origin
From Middle Chinese '節約' (tset-yak) meaning 'to moderate, to economize'.
Original meaning: To be frugal, to cut down on expenses, to moderate.
Sino-Japanese (kango)Cultural Context
The concept of <b>節約する</b> (setsuyaku suru) is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, reflecting a value placed on frugality and avoiding waste. This can be seen in various aspects of daily life, from careful budgeting and meal planning to efficient energy use. It's not just about saving money, but also about appreciating resources and living a sustainable lifestyle.
Test Yourself 30 questions
Which of these means 'to save money'?
節約する (setsuyaku suru) specifically means to save money or economize. The other options mean 'to eat', 'to drink', and 'to sleep' respectively.
If you want to reduce your spending, which action would you take?
節約する (setsuyaku suru) means to economize or save money, which directly relates to reducing spending. The other options do not fit this context.
Which sentence uses 節約する (setsuyaku suru) correctly?
節約する (setsuyaku suru) is typically used for saving resources like water or money, or to economize. While you can 'save' rice, books, or friends in other contexts, the most common and direct application of 節約する is for things like water or money to reduce consumption/expenditure.
節約する (setsuyaku suru) means to spend a lot of money.
No, 節約する (setsuyaku suru) means the opposite: to save money, to economize, or to cut expenses.
If you are trying to 節約する (setsuyaku suru), you are trying to be careful with your money.
Yes, 節約する (setsuyaku suru) means to be careful with money and to economize.
あなたは食べ物を節約します。(Anata wa tabemono o setsuyaku shimasu.) means 'You waste food.'
No, あなたは食べ物を節約します。(Anata wa tabemono o setsuyaku shimasu.) means 'You save food' or 'You economize on food,' not waste it.
Listen for 'I save money.'
Listen for 'Every day, I save electricity.'
Listen for 'Saving water is important.'
Read this aloud:
お金を節約したいです。
Focus: せつやくしたい (setsuyaku shitai)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
もっと節約するべきです。
Focus: べきです (beki desu)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
食費を節約します。
Focus: しょくひ (shokuhi)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a short sentence about saving money for a trip to Japan. (Use '節約する'.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私は日本旅行のために節約します。
You want to buy a new book. Write a simple sentence saying you will save money for it. (Use '節約する'.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
新しい本を買うために節約します。
Your friend suggests going out to eat, but you want to save money. Write a sentence explaining you need to economize. (Use '節約する'.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
すみません、今は節約する必要があります。
田中さんはなぜお弁当を作るのですか？
Read this passage:
田中さんは毎日、お昼ご飯をお弁当にします。これはお金を節約するためです。
田中さんはなぜお弁当を作るのですか？
文章に「お金を節約するため」と書いてあります。
文章に「お金を節約するため」と書いてあります。
この人は何のために節約していますか？
Read this passage:
私は新しいパソコンが欲しいです。だから、毎日コーヒーを買いません。これは節約です。
この人は何のために節約していますか？
文章に「新しいパソコンが欲しいです。だから、毎日コーヒーを買いません。これは節約です。」とあります。
文章に「新しいパソコンが欲しいです。だから、毎日コーヒーを買いません。これは節約です。」とあります。
山田さんはどのような人ですか？
Read this passage:
山田さんは電気をよく消します。水を出しっぱなしにしません。山田さんは節約する人です。
山田さんはどのような人ですか？
電気を消したり、水を出しっぱなしにしないことは、電気代や水道代を節約することにつながります。
電気を消したり、水を出しっぱなしにしないことは、電気代や水道代を節約することにつながります。
私は毎日お弁当を作って、お金を___しています。
「節約する」は「お金を節約する」という形で使われ、「お金を節約しています」は「お金をセーブしています」という意味になります。
電気をこまめに消して、電気代を___しましょう。
「電気代を節約する」は「電気代をセーブする」という意味で、この文脈に合っています。
私はいつも安いスーパーで買い物をして、食費を___ようにしています。
「食費を節約する」は「食費をセーブする」という意味で、この文脈に合っています。
水筒を持っていけば、飲み物代を___できます。
「飲み物代を節約する」は「飲み物代をセーブできる」という意味で、この文脈に合っています。
会社では紙の___を___するために、両面印刷を推奨しています。
「紙の消費を節約する」は「紙の使用量をセーブする」という意味で、この文脈に合っています。
暖房の設定温度を少し下げて、ガス代を___しましょう。
「ガス代を節約する」は「ガス代をセーブする」という意味で、この文脈に合っています。
You want to save money to buy a new book. Write a short sentence in Japanese saying this. (Hint: '新しい本' for new book, '買う' for buy)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
新しい本を買うためにお金を節約します。
Your friend spends a lot of money on coffee. Write a short sentence in Japanese advising them to economize. (Hint: 'コーヒー' for coffee, 'たくさん' for a lot, 'もっと' for more)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
もっとコーヒー代を節約するべきです。
You are trying to cut expenses this month. Write a short sentence in Japanese saying this. (Hint: '今月' for this month, '頑張る' for try hard)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
今月は出費を節約しようと思っています。
What does B advise A to do?
Read this passage:
A: 週末に新しい服を買いたいな。 B: でも、今月はあまりお金がないでしょう？少し節約しないと。
What does B advise A to do?
B suggests '少し節約しないと' which means 'you should save a little'.
B suggests '少し節約しないと' which means 'you should save a little'.
Why is the speaker making their own lunch?
Read this passage:
私は毎日のランチ代を節約するために、お弁当を作っています。
Why is the speaker making their own lunch?
The passage says 'ランチ代を節約するために', meaning 'in order to save money on lunch'.
The passage says 'ランチ代を節約するために', meaning 'in order to save money on lunch'.
How does the student save on transportation costs?
Read this passage:
学生なので、できるだけ交通費を節約しています。いつも自転車を使っています。
How does the student save on transportation costs?
The passage states 'いつも自転車を使っています', meaning 'I always use a bicycle'.
The passage states 'いつも自転車を使っています', meaning 'I always use a bicycle'.
/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
Example
毎日の食費を節約している。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More family words
還暦
B160th birthday (celebration of completing a 60-year cycle).
〜くらい
B1About; approximately; to the extent that.
認め合う
B1To recognize each other's worth; to acknowledge.
知人
B1Acquaintance.
顔見知り
A2Acquaintance; someone you know by sight.
甘える
B1To be spoiled, to fawn; to behave like a pampered child.
活発な
B1Active; lively; vigorous.
思春期
B1Adolescence; the period of transition from childhood to adulthood.
養子
B1Adopted child; a child taken into one's family by legal means.
養親
B2Adoptive parent.
