現金|げんきんgenkin[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nouncash; ready money; money on hand; currency
   現金げんきんで払はらう必要ひつようはありません。↗

   You don't have to pay in cash.
2. na-adjectivemercenary; self-interested; calculating

• Synonym金かねNeutralThe broadest everyday word for money, as in 「お金がない」. 「現金」 is narrower: cash you can pay with directly, as opposed to deposits, cards or bank transfers.
• Synonym金銭きんせんWrittenFormal, written-style word for money in general, as in 「金銭トラブル」; it covers money of any kind, without stressing whether it is cash or some other form of payment.
• SynonymキャッシュNeutralLoanword for cash, as in 「キャッシュで払う」 and 「キャッシュレス」; used mostly in payment contexts and feels more casual than 「現金」.
• Synonym現ナマげんナマCasualColloquial, slangy term for hard cash with a rough flavor, as in 「現ナマを積む」; it stresses actual banknotes. Use 「現金」 in formal settings.
• Synonym金員きんいんWrittenLegal and official-document term for a sum of money, as in 「金員を支払う」. Not used in everyday speech; say 「お金」 or 「金額」 instead.
• Synonym金子きんすWrittenOld-fashioned word for money or gold coins, heard mostly in period dramas. In daily life say 「お金」; it does not refer specifically to cash.
• Synonym金円きんえんWrittenRare, archaic word for money; it can also mean the yen under the gold standard. Not used in daily life — say 「お金」 or 「金銭」 instead.
• AntonymカードNeutralCovers card payments such as credit cards; as a way of paying, it is the opposite of handing over 「現金」, as in 「カードで払う」.
• Antonym信用しんようWrittenWritten word for trust and credit. In 「信用取引」 or 「信用買い」 it is the opposite of paying cash, though not a direct antonym.

To pay in cash, use 「現金」 or the more casual 「キャッシュ」; for money in general say 「お金」, or 「金銭」 in formal writing. Paying by card is 「カード」, and buying on credit is 「掛け取引」 or 「信用取引」.

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

1. ある法制ほうせい下かで強制きょうせい通用つうよう力りょくを有ゆうする貨幣かへい。その貨幣かへいを対価たいかとして引き渡ひきわたすことにつき、債権者さいけんしゃは拒絶きょぜつすることができず、かつ、引き渡ひきわたしで決済けっさいが確定かくてい的てきに完了かんりょうするもの。
2. 語義ごぎ1のものに加くわえ、金融機関きんゆうきかんにおいて直ただちに、語義ごぎ1の貨幣かへいに交換こうかんできる通貨つうか代用だいよう証券しょうけんを含ふくんだもの。
3. （現金げんきんを見みせると態度たいどがすぐに変かわることからか）利害りがいの変化へんかによってすぐに態度たいどが変かわること。露骨ろこつに打算的ださんてきであること。