Translation guide
The English phrase 'making a killing' means earning a large amount of money quickly, often through a single deal or short-term venture. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for this idea, from common idioms to more literal phrases.
Expressing that someone made a lot of money in a short time, often through business, investment, or a lucky break.
A common and natural way to say 'make a big profit' or 'make a killing'. It implies a large financial gain, often from a single venture.
彼は株で大儲けした。
He made a killing in the stock market.
そのビジネスで大儲けしようとしている。
He's trying to make a killing with that business.
Literally 'aim for one scoop of a thousand gold pieces'. It means to try to make a fortune in one go, often used for speculative ventures.
彼は一攫千金を狙って起業した。
He started a business aiming to make a killing.
A colloquial phrase meaning to earn a lot of money, often with a nuance of raking it in. 'がっぽり' is an onomatopoeia for scooping up money.
あの店は観光客でがっぽり儲けている。
That shop is making a killing off tourists.
Means to make a lot of money quickly, sometimes with a connotation of doing so recklessly or through shady means. Less common than 大儲けする.
彼は短期間で荒稼ぎした。
He made a killing in a short period.
大儲けする describes the result of making a large profit, while 一攫千金を狙う focuses on the intention or attempt to strike it rich. Use 大儲けする when the killing has already been made, and 一攫千金を狙う when someone is aiming for it.
彼は大儲けしたが、私はまだ一攫千金を狙っている。
He made a killing, but I'm still trying to strike it rich.
Do not translate 'making a killing' literally as 殺しをする (killing someone). It has no connection to murder in English idiom, and the Japanese equivalent does not use violent imagery.
彼は不動産で大儲けした。
He made a killing in real estate.
彼らはパンデミック中にマスクを売って大儲けした。
They made a killing selling masks during the pandemic.