Translation guide
The percentage at which interest is charged or paid on a loan, deposit, or investment. In Japanese, the most common term is 金利 (きんり), but other expressions exist for specific contexts.
金利はいくらですか？
What is the interest rate?
金利が低いです。
The interest rate is low.
The cost of borrowing money or the return on savings, expressed as a percentage.
The standard, all-purpose term for 'interest rate' in economic and everyday contexts. Used for loans, deposits, and bonds.
住宅ローンの金利が上がった。
The interest rate on home loans went up.
この銀行は普通預金の金利が低い。
This bank has a low interest rate on ordinary savings accounts.
A more formal or technical term for 'interest rate', often used in legal, financial, or contractual documents. Interchangeable with 金利 in many cases but slightly more formal.
この債券の利率は年2%です。
The interest rate on this bond is 2% per annum.
Literally 'interest rate', but rarely used in modern Japanese. Mostly found in older texts or very formal legal contexts. Prefer 金利 or 利率.
契約書に利息率が明記されている。
The interest rate is specified in the contract.
The yearly interest rate, often including fees, used for consumer loans and credit cards.
Short for 'annual interest rate'. Commonly used in loan advertisements and financial product descriptions.
このカードローンの年利は15%です。
The annual interest rate on this card loan is 15%.
Means 'annual rate' and is often used in the phrase 年率換算 (annualized rate). Can refer to interest or other rates.
The interest rate set by a central bank to influence the economy.
The standard term for the central bank's policy interest rate, such as the Bank of Japan's short-term policy rate.
日銀は政策金利を据え置いた。
The Bank of Japan kept its policy interest rate unchanged.
Distinguishing between an interest rate that stays the same and one that changes over time.
Fixed interest rate. Used for mortgages, loans, and bonds.
固定金利の住宅ローンを選びました。
I chose a fixed-rate mortgage.
Variable or floating interest rate. Often used for mortgages and some loans.
変動金利は市場の動向によって変わります。
Variable interest rates change according to market trends.
The rate paid by a bank on savings or time deposits.
Specifically the interest rate on bank deposits (savings accounts, time deposits).
この銀行の預金金利は0.001%です。
The deposit interest rate at this bank is 0.001%.
The rate charged on borrowed money, such as a mortgage or personal loan.
The interest rate on loans offered by financial institutions. Often used in economic reports.
銀行の貸出金利が引き下げられた。
The bank's lending rate was lowered.
Common term for loan interest rate, especially in consumer contexts (car loans, personal loans).
ローン金利を比較して、一番低いものを選んだ。
I compared loan interest rates and chose the lowest one.
Both mean 'interest rate'. 金利 is more common in everyday language and news. 利率 is slightly more formal and often appears in contracts or legal documents. In most situations, 金利 is the safer choice.
金利が上がると、ローンの返済額が増える。
When interest rates rise, loan repayments increase.
利率は契約書に記載されています。
The interest rate is stated in the contract.
The English word 'interest' can mean 'curiosity' (興味, きょうみ) or 'financial interest'. When talking about rates, always use 金利 or 利率, never 興味.
私は日本の歴史に興味があります。
I am interested in Japanese history.
中央銀行が金利を引き上げた。
The central bank raised interest rates.
低金利のローンを探しています。
I'm looking for a loan with a low interest rate.
年率換算で5%の利回りです。
It's an annualized yield of 5%.