How to say "money" in Japanese

• 金かねJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe ordinary, all-purpose word for money — funds, cash, the price of things. When you simply mean money in daily life, this is the word to reach for.
  金かねの切れ目きれめが縁えんの切れ目きれめ。↗

  The end of money is the end of love.
• マネーCommon
  nounA loanword from English, written in katakana; it appears chiefly in financial or commercial contexts and in set phrases, rather than as the neutral everyday word for money.
  「いいから金かね払はらえっての」「さっさとマネーよこせネ」↗

  "Just pay up already, I'm saying." "Hand over the money, Yo!"
• 金銭きんせんJLPT N3approx.Common
  no-adjectiveA formal term for money or cash, typical of written, legal, and business language; for everyday talk about money, 金 is the natural choice instead.
  金銭きんせんのことで彼かれと争あらそいになった。↗

  I had a quarrel with him over money.
• 貨幣かへいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe technical term for currency — money as coins and banknotes, a medium of exchange — as discussed in economics and finance; it is not used for one's personal funds.
  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.
• 礼金れいきんCommon
  nounMoney given as thanks or a reward — a particular kind of payment, not a general word for money; often the payment made to a landlord when renting housing.

Choose 金 for money in general, 「マネー」 for the loanword heard in financial contexts, 金銭 for formal talk of money or cash, 貨幣 for currency as coins and banknotes, and 礼金 only for money given as thanks.

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

• 金かねmoney
• マネーmoney
• 金銭きんせんmoney
• 貨幣かへいmoney
• 礼金れいきんmoney (given as thanks)
• お金おかねmoney
• 銭ぜぜmoney
• お足おあしmoney
• ゲルトmoney
• 金子きんすmoney
• 銭金ぜにかねmoney
• 金円きんえんmoney
• 金片かねびらmoney
• 札片さつびらmoney
• カネmoney (esp. dirty money)
• じぇんこmoney
• ゲルmoney
• 鳥目ちょうもくcash
• 金員きんいん(amount of) money
• 丸まるmoney
• ドルmoney
• 黄金おうごんmoney (esp. ōban coin)
• 金銀きんぎんmoney
• 実弾じつだんmoney (for bribery)
• 銭ぜにmoney
• 用度ようどmoney
• お宝おたからmoney
• 金きんmoney
• 足あしmoney
• 懐ふところmoney (one is carrying)
• いちもつmoney