Translation guide
Refers to wealth that has been recently acquired, often implying a lack of the social refinement or pedigree associated with inherited wealth. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through specific terms that carry nuances of being newly rich, sometimes with a negative connotation.
To describe someone who has recently become rich and may lack the sophistication of old money.
The most common and direct term for 'new money' or 'nouveau riche'. Often carries a negative nuance of being flashy or uncultured.
彼は成金趣味が丸出しだ。
He flaunts his new money tastes.
成金はすぐにお金を使い果たすことが多い。
New money often spends their wealth quickly.
Emphasizes the suddenness of becoming rich, like 'overnight millionaire'. 'にわか' means sudden or temporary.
彼は宝くじでにわか成金になった。
He became an overnight millionaire from the lottery.
A more formal or literary term for the newly rich, often used in economic or historical contexts.
産業革命期には多くの新興成金が生まれた。
Many new money families emerged during the Industrial Revolution.
To refer to a person who has recently acquired wealth.
Can refer to both the concept and the person. Context determines whether it means 'new money' or 'a nouveau riche person'.
あの成金は昔貧乏だったらしい。
That new money guy used to be poor, apparently.
Describes a person with 'new money taste', implying flashy or gaudy preferences.
彼女は成金趣味の人で、派手な服ばかり着ている。
She's a person with new money taste, always wearing flashy clothes.
To describe the ostentatious style often associated with new money.
Literally 'new money taste', used to criticize showy, tasteless displays of wealth.
あの家の金ピカの装飾は成金趣味だ。
That house's gold-plated decorations are so new money.
Means 'flashy' or 'showy', often used to describe new money style. Not specific to wealth but commonly associated.
彼の服装はいつも派手だ。
His clothes are always flashy.
Do not translate 'new money' literally as 新しいお金 (atarashii okane), which means 'new currency' and is incorrect in this context.
お金持ち (okanemochi) simply means 'rich person' without the nuance of being newly rich or lacking refinement. Use 成金 when you want to emphasize the 'new money' aspect.