Translation guide
The attitude of doing something purely for money or personal gain, without loyalty or higher principles. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific nouns, adjectives, and set phrases that describe a person or their mindset.
To say someone is only interested in money, or that their actions are motivated by profit.
A common adjective meaning 'calculating' or 'mercenary', implying that someone acts based on self-interest and profit.
To talk about the idea or mindset of being mercenary, often in a critical or analytical way.
Noun meaning 'calculation' or 'self-interest'; often used in phrases like 打算で動く (to act out of self-interest).
The English phrase 'mercenary spirit' does not have a direct, natural equivalent in Japanese. Translating it word-for-word as 傭兵の精神 would be misunderstood as referring to actual mercenaries. Use the expressions above depending on context.
彼は打算的な人間だ。
He is a mercenary person.
Literally 'money ghost', this is a strong, colloquial phrase for someone obsessed with money, a 'money-grubber'.
彼は金の亡者だ。
He's a money-grubber.
Slang term combining 'money' and 'violence/greed', describing someone aggressively greedy for money.
あの社長は銭ゲバだ。
That company president is a money-grubbing jerk.
A formal term for a 'mammonist' or someone who worships money; often used in critical or ideological contexts.
彼は拝金主義者として批判された。
He was criticized as a mammonist.
Literally 'dirty with money', meaning stingy or greedy about money; often used to describe someone who is tight-fisted or always thinking about profit.
彼は金に汚いやつだ。
He's a money-grubbing guy.
彼の行動は打算に基づいている。
His actions are based on self-interest.
Formal term for 'mammonism' or the worship of money as an ideology.
拝金主義が社会を蝕んでいる。
Mammonism is eroding society.