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'.
I'm having financial difficulties this month.
Literally 'troubled by money'. A very common, slightly casual way to say you're short on money.
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'.
I'm broke until payday.
A formal term for financial difficulties, often used for organizations or governments. Can sound stiff for personal use.
The company is facing financial difficulties.
Specifically referring to having debts or being in the red.
Describing a situation where one is just barely managing financially.
Expressing severe financial collapse, often in formal or legal contexts.
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.