Translation guide
A person, thing, or activity that generates income. In Japanese, the expression depends on whether you mean a profitable person, a lucrative product, or a side hustle.
Referring to a product, service, or business that brings in a lot of money.
Literally 'earning head', this is the most common way to refer to a top-earning product, branch, or person in a business context.
この商品が我が社の稼ぎ頭です。
This product is our company's moneymaker.
Literally 'dollar box', this is a colloquial term for a highly profitable product or business, often used in entertainment or retail.
あのゲームは会社のドル箱だ。
That game is a moneymaker for the company.
Literally 'money-growing tree', this idiomatic phrase describes a steady source of income, like a rental property or a popular product.
その特許は金のなる木になった。
That patent became a moneymaker.
Describing someone who is the main earner in a family or a high-earning individual.
Refers to the breadwinner or primary earner in a household.
彼が一家の稼ぎ手だ。
He is the moneymaker of the family.
Can also refer to the top earner among a group, such as in a sales team.
Referring to an activity or small business that generates additional income.
A formal term for a secondary source of income.
彼は副収入源としてアパートを経営している。
He runs an apartment as a moneymaker on the side.
A loanword from English, commonly used for a side business or gig.
週末にサイドビジネスを始めた。
I started a moneymaker on the weekends.
Informal reference to a body part that can earn money, often in modeling or entertainment.
A literal translation used humorously or in specific contexts like modeling (e.g., 'moneymaker' referring to legs or smile).
This is a direct translation and may sound odd; usually only used when the English slang is being explained.
モデルにとって脚は金になる体の一部だ。
For a model, legs are a moneymaker.
稼ぎ頭 is the most versatile and can refer to people or things. ドル箱 is very casual and often used for entertainment products. 金のなる木 implies a passive, ongoing income source like a rental property.
Directly translating 'moneymaker' as お金を作る人 or similar sounds unnatural. Use the context-appropriate phrases above.
彼女は営業部の稼ぎ頭です。
She is the moneymaker of the sales department.