Translation guide
The concept of life insurance in Japanese is expressed with specific terms, but the system and cultural context differ from Western countries.
To refer to life insurance as a financial product or concept.
The standard term for life insurance. Often abbreviated to 生保 (せいほ) in industry contexts.
I will take out life insurance.
I'm considering reviewing my life insurance.
Abbreviation of 生命保険, common in business or casual conversation.
A life insurance salesman came.
To specify different kinds of life insurance policies.
To talk about the action of getting or possessing life insurance.
To join/enroll in life insurance. Common verb for taking out a policy.
It's better to get life insurance while you're young.
To take out life insurance (on someone). Often used when insuring a family member.
I have life insurance on my husband.
Formal way to say 'to take out life insurance'.
To refer to the money received from a life insurance policy.
Do not translate 'life insurance' word-for-word as 人生保険 (じんせいほけん). This is not a real term and will cause confusion.
In Japan, life insurance is often sold by door-to-door salespeople or through workplace group plans. The term 生保レディ (せいほレディ) refers to female insurance sales agents.
Whole life insurance. Coverage for the entire life of the insured.
Whole life insurance has a savings component.
Endowment insurance. Pays out at maturity or upon death.
Endowment insurance pays out at maturity.
Variable life insurance. Investment component with variable returns.
Variable life insurance carries high risk.
I plan to take out a new life insurance policy.
Death benefit. Specifically the payout upon death.
Designate the beneficiary of the death benefit.