元金|がんきんgankin[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, financeprincipal
2. noun, financecapital; seed money

• Synonym原資げんしWrittenWritten/formal prose. Points to the source of funds, as in 「年金の原資」; it stresses where money comes from, while 「元金」 is the principal of a loan or deposit.
• Synonym元本がんぽんNeutralThe principal of an investment, as in 「元本保証」; a finance term, while 「元金」 covers loan and deposit principal.
• Synonym元手もとでNeutralThe funds you start a venture with; also figurative, as in 「体が元手」 (your body is your capital).
• Synonym資本しほんNeutralCapital for running a business; also a foundation, as in 「体が資本」 (health is your capital) — not loan principal like 「元金」.
• Related資金しきんNeutralA general word for funds, as in 「資金調達」; unlike 「元金」 it does not specifically mean principal.
• Related資本金しほんきんFormalFormal legal term for the capital stock paid into a joint-stock company; not the principal of a loan like 「元金」.
• RelatedキャピタルNeutralA loanword meaning capital; it can also mean a capital city or a capital letter, not the principal of a loan like 「元金」.
• Related元高もとだかWrittenWritten/formal prose. The amount originally lent in a loan, close to the principal sense of 「元金」; rarer, mostly in old-fashioned usage.
• Antonym利息りそくNeutralInterest paid on a loan or deposit; the counterpart of 「元金」 as principal.
• Antonym利子りしNeutralAlso interest, opposed to the principal 「元金」; common in everyday speech.

Use 「元金」 for the principal of a loan or deposit, as in 「元金均等返済」. For investment principal say 「元本」, for money put up to start something 「元手」, and for business capital 「資本」. 「利子」 and 「利息」 are its opposite, interest.

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

1. 元手もとで。資本金しほんきん。
2. 借金しゃっきんなどの金額きんがく。