How to say "pay" in Japanese

• 払うはらうJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe everyday verb for paying: handing over money for a bill, a fee, or something you buy. Use it when you pay at a shop or settle an ordinary amount.
  払はらえるかどうか分わからないざます。↗

  I'm not sure I can afford it.
• 支払うしはらうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbAlso the verb 'to pay', typically for settling an amount owed — a bill or a debt. It can sound a shade more formal or businesslike than 払う.
  私はその本ほんに３ドル支払しはらった。↗

  I paid 3 dollars for the book.
• 給料きゅうりょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA noun: the pay you receive for your job — your salary or wages. This is the usual word for talking about how much your work pays, whether it is high or low.
  彼かれの給料きゅうりょうでは裕福ゆうふくになれないだろう。↗

  He won't get fat on his salary.
• 給与きゅうよJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounAlso a noun for salary or wages, but with an official, businesslike flavor: this is the term companies and pay-related paperwork use, rather than how you mention your own pay in conversation.
  私は給与きゅうよの５分ぶんの１を税金ぜいきんで取とられてしまう。↗

  One-fifth of my wages go to taxes.
• ペイCommon
  nounA loanword for 'pay; salary', but seldom the word you want: when you mean the money a job pays, 給料 is the natural noun, and ペイ adds little in an ordinary sentence.

Choose between the verbs 「払う」 and 「支払う」 for the act of paying, and among the nouns 給料, 給与 and 「ペイ」 for pay as money earned from work, with 給料 the everyday choice.

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

• 払うはらうto pay (e.g. money, bill)
• 支払うしはらうto pay
• 給料きゅうりょうsalary
• 給与きゅうよpay
• ペイpay
• 賃金ちんぎんwages
• 手当てあてsalary
• まかなうto supply (goods, money, etc.)
• 給金きゅうきん(one's) pay
• 俸給ほうきゅうsalary (esp. public employees)
• 工賃こうちんlabor cost
• 引き合うひきあうto pay
• 払い出すはらいだすto pay (out)
• 払い渡すはらいわたすto pay
• 手間賃てまちんpayment (for labour)
• 賃銭ちんせんwages
• 割に合うわりにあうto be worth it
• 手間代てまだいpayment (for labour)
• 採算が取れるさいさんがとれるto be profitable
• 商売になるしょうばいになるto be profitable (business)
• 工銭こうせんlabor charge
• 工料こうりょうlabor cost
• 手間てまpayment (for labour)
• 待遇たいぐうworking conditions
• そろばんが合うそろばんがあうto be profitable
• 入れるいれるto pay (one's rent, etc.)
• 打つうつto pay (a deposit, etc.)
• 収めるおさめるto pay (fees, taxes, etc.)