How to say "coin" in Japanese

• コインCommon
  nounThe everyday noun for a coin as a physical object — the metal money in your pocket, or what you insert into a vending machine. This is the natural word for casual, daily situations.
  私はこの箱ばこのなかにたくさんのコインを持もっている。↗

  I have many coins in this box.
• 貨幣かへいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA broader, more formal term that covers money and currency in general, with 'coin' as one of its senses. It suits economic, historical, or academic discussion of money rather than everyday talk about change.
  この代用だいよう貨幣かへいでは、会社かいしゃの直営店ちょくえいてんに行いき、その店みせで食料品しょくりょうひんや衣料いりょうを買かうことしかできませんでした。↗

  With the token they could only go to the company shop and buy food or clothing from that shop.
• 硬貨こうかJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe specific term for metal coins, typically used where coins are set against paper money — in banking, statistics, and official writing. In casual conversation コイン is the more natural choice.
  これらの硬貨こうかはほとんど価値かちがない。↗

  These coins are of little value.
• 鋳るいるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbA verb: 'coin' in its minting sense, i.e. to cast metal into coins. It is essentially a metalworking verb, so it is not a way to refer to coins as objects.

Use 「コイン」 for coins in everyday situations, 硬貨 for coins formally contrasted with paper money, 貨幣 for money or currency as a broader category, and 「鋳る」 only for the verb sense of minting.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• コインcoin
• 貨幣かへいmoney
• 硬貨こうかcoin
• 鋳るいるto cast
• 銭貨せんかcoin (esp. an east Asian coin, many of which have a hole in the center)
• お足おあしmoney
• 作るつくるto coin (a phrase)
• 足あしmoney
• 玉たまcoin