Translation guide
The act of charging too much money for a product or service. This guide covers how to express overcharging in Japanese, from common verbs to formal complaints.
Expressing that a seller or service provider has charged more than the correct or fair price.
A common colloquial verb meaning to rip off or overcharge, often used when a customer feels cheated.
Phrases to use when you want to tell someone you've been overcharged and seek a correction.
A polite but direct way to say 'This is too expensive', implying you think the price is unfair.
ぼったくる is used from the customer's perspective to describe being ripped off. ふっかける focuses on the seller's action of demanding a high price. ぼったくる is more common in everyday speech.
I got ripped off by that shop.
あの店、観光客をぼったくってるよ。
That shop rips off tourists.
I got overcharged by the taxi.
A neutral, formal way to say 'charge a high fee'. Can imply overcharging in context.
I was charged an unreasonably high fee.
To charge an exorbitant price, often used when someone demands an unfairly high amount.
He demanded an outrageous price.
A technical term for overbilling or overcharging, used in business or legal contexts.
The credit card company overcharged.
Excuse me, this is too expensive. Could it be a mistake?
A polite way to suggest there's an error in the charge, without directly accusing anyone of overcharging.
The charge seems to be wrong. Could you check it?
A confrontational way to say 'Isn't this a rip-off?'. Use only in informal situations when you're sure you're being cheated.
Can sound aggressive; use with caution.
This price is a rip-off, isn't it?
That shop demands outrageous prices.
The English word 'overcharging' doesn't have a single direct equivalent in casual Japanese. Using 過剰請求 in everyday conversation sounds unnatural. Stick to ぼったくる or descriptive phrases.