How to say "deficit" in Japanese

• 欠損けっそんCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers deficit in the sense of a loss or shortfall, especially in financial and accounting contexts such as a company's losses. It suggests something has been lost or is missing rather than simply running in the red.
  同社どうしゃは第だい一いち四半期しはんきに４億よんおくドルの欠損けっそんを出だした。↗

  The company incurred a deficit of $400 million during the first quarter.
• 赤字あかじJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe usual word for a financial deficit: being in the red, with expenses exceeding income. Use it for companies, governments, or budgets that are running a deficit, as opposed to a shortage of some resource.
  どのくらい莫大ばくだいな赤字あかじに国家こっかは耐たえられるのだろうか。↗

  How huge a deficit can the nation stand?
• 不足ふそくJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verb, na-adjectiveMeans insufficiency, deficiency, or lack, so it fits 'deficit' only when something falls short of what is needed, as in a shortage of funds or sleep. It is not the word for a bookkeeping deficit.
  食糧しょくりょうが不足ふそくしている。↗

  Food has been in short supply.

For a financial deficit use 赤字; 欠損 also covers financial losses and shortfalls, while 不足 expresses a shortage or insufficiency of something rather than a bookkeeping deficit.

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

• 欠損けっそんdeficit
• 赤字あかじ(being in) the red
• 不足ふそくinsufficiency
• 不足前たらずまえdeficit
• 欠損金けっそんきんdeficit
• ビハインドbeing behind (in points, goals, etc.)
• 不足分ふそくぶんshortage
• 赤字額あかじがくlosses
• マイナスdeficit
• 食い込みくいこみdeficit
• 穴あなdeficit