How to say "interest" in Japanese

• 興味きょうみJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe word for interest as personal curiosity or attraction to a subject, activity, or hobby — what you mean when you say you are interested in something.
  あなたは花はなに興味きょうみがありますか。↗

  Are you interested in flowers?
• 金利きんりCommon
  nounThe financial word for interest rate — the percentage charged for borrowing or paid on deposits. Use it when discussing rates rather than the money itself.
  そのローンの金利きんりは5.5％だ。↗

  The loan carries 5.5% interest.
• 関心かんしんJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounInterest in the sense of concern about or attention to a matter or issue; where English 'interest' overlaps with 'concern', this is the word, and it overlaps with 興味.
  私は美術びじゅつに非常ひじょうな関心かんしんを抱いだいています。↗

  I am deeply interested in art.
• 利回りりまわりCommon
  nounReally the yield or return produced by an investment; as a translation of 'interest' it fits only that investment-yield sense, and is seldom the word for interest on a loan.
  その投資とうしには６％の利回りまわりが保証ほしょうされている。↗

  A 6% yield is guaranteed on the investment.
• 利息りそくJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounInterest as money — the amount paid on a loan or earned on a deposit. Choose this for the money itself, as opposed to 金利, which is the rate.
  彼かれは利息りそくを付つけて借金しゃっきん払はらいをした。↗

  He paid the loan with interest.

For personal interest or curiosity use 興味; for interest as concern with issues use 関心; in finance, 利息 is the money paid, 金利 the rate, and 「利回り」 the yield on an investment.

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

• 興味きょうみinterest (in something)
• 金利きんりinterest rate
• 関心かんしんconcern
• 利回りりまわりinterest
• 利息りそくinterest (on a loan, deposit etc.)
• 利子りしinterest (on a deposit, loan, etc.)
• 興きょうinterest
• 利権りけんinterest
• 面白みおもしろみinterest
• 乗り気のりきinterest
• 感興かんきょうinterest
• 眼中がんちゅう(one's) consideration
• 意欲いよくwill
• 利りadvantage
• 持ち分もちぶんshare (of expenses)
• 気乗りきのりinterest (in something)
• インタレストinterest
• 興趣きょうしゅinterest (in something)
• 利金りきんinterest (money)
• 面白さおもしろさappeal
• 視聴しちょう(public) attention
• 曲きょくenjoyment
• 艶つやinterest
• 味わいあじわいcharm
• 混じるまじるto associate with
• 潤いうるおいrichness
• 篤志とくしinterest (in public welfare, social enterprise, etc.)
• 矢印やじるし(romantic) interest (for a certain person)
• 気きinterest
• 子こinterest
• 色気いろけdesire