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.
He made a killing in the stock market.
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.
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.
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.
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.
He made a killing in real estate.
He started a business aiming to make a killing.
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.
They made a killing selling masks during the pandemic.