Translation guide
Money that is not being invested or used productively. In Japanese, this is typically expressed with terms like 遊休資本 or 遊資, but the concept can also be conveyed through phrases describing unused funds.
Capital that is not currently being used for investment or productive purposes.
The most direct and common term for idle capital in economic and business contexts.
企業は遊休資本を有効活用すべきだ。
Companies should make effective use of idle capital.
A shorter, somewhat more formal or written term for idle funds or idle money.
市場には多額の遊資が存在する。
There is a large amount of idle capital in the market.
A more colloquial phrase meaning 'funds that are sitting idle'. Suitable for less formal business conversations.
遊んでいる資金を投資に回そう。
Let's put idle funds into investments.
Literally 'dead money', a colloquial and somewhat negative term for money that is not generating returns. Use with caution as it can sound harsh.
遊休資本 is the standard economic term. 遊資 is more concise and often used in financial reporting. 遊んでいる資金 is a plain, descriptive phrase suitable for everyday business talk. 死に金 is slang and should be avoided in formal contexts.
I want to do something about the dead money just sitting in the bank.