Translation guide
Ways to express having money problems, from formal terms to everyday phrases.
Expressing that someone is having money problems in a general sense.
A common, natural way to say one is financially struggling. Literally 'economically painful'.
今月は経済的に苦しい。
I'm having financial difficulties this month.
Literally 'troubled by money'. A very common, slightly casual way to say you're short on money.
最近お金に困っていて、外食を控えている。
I've been having money troubles lately, so I'm cutting back on eating out.
A casual, slangy term meaning 'broke' or 'short of money'. Literally 'money shortage'.
給料日前で金欠なんだ。
I'm broke until payday.
A formal term for financial difficulties, often used for organizations or governments. Can sound stiff for personal use.
その会社は財政難に陥っている。
The company is facing financial difficulties.
Specifically referring to having debts or being in the red.
Directly means 'to have debt'. The most straightforward way to say you owe money.
学生ローンで借金がある。
I have debt from student loans.
An emphatic, slightly dramatic way to say 'drowning in debt'. Literally 'covered in debt'.
彼は借金まみれで首が回らない。
He's drowning in debt and can't make ends meet.
Describing a situation where one is just barely managing financially.
An onomatopoeic adverb meaning 'just barely' or 'scraping by'. Often used with 生活 (せいかつ) or 暮らす (くらす).
今の給料ではかつかつの生活だ。
I'm just scraping by on my current salary.
Means 'just barely' or 'by a narrow margin'. Can be used for finances, time, etc.
Expressing severe financial collapse, often in formal or legal contexts.
The standard term for bankruptcy. Used for both individuals and companies.
その会社は破産を申請した。
The company filed for bankruptcy.
Specifically refers to corporate bankruptcy or going out of business.
The direct translation '財政的困難' (ざいせいてきこんなん) is rarely used in natural Japanese. It sounds overly formal and translated. Use the phrases above instead.
毎月ぎりぎりの予算でやりくりしている。
I'm managing on a very tight budget every month.
不況で多くの企業が倒産した。
Many companies went bankrupt due to the recession.