Translation guide
In Japanese, 'savings' is most commonly expressed as 貯金 (chokin) for money saved in a bank account, or 貯蓄 (chochiku) for the broader concept of saving money. The verb 'to save' is 貯金する or 貯める. For specific contexts like retirement savings, compound words like 老後資金 are used.
The most common meaning: money you have deposited and accumulated in a bank or similar institution.
The standard word for savings in a bank account. Can also be used as a verb with する (to save money).
毎月、給料の一部を貯金しています。
I save a part of my salary every month.
貯金がだいぶ増えました。
My savings have increased quite a bit.
Refers specifically to money deposited in a bank (deposits). Often used in banking contexts, like account balances.
普通預金口座を開設しました。
I opened a savings account.
The general concept of putting money aside for the future, not necessarily in a bank.
A broader term for saving money, often used in economic contexts or when talking about the habit of saving.
将来のために貯蓄を増やしたい。
I want to increase my savings for the future.
The most common verb phrase meaning 'to save money'. 貯める is a transitive verb.
旅行のために、毎月少しずつお金を貯めています。
I'm saving money little by little every month for a trip.
Means 'saving' in the sense of economizing or cutting back on expenses. Often used for saving on utilities, time, etc.
Money set aside for a particular future goal.
Retirement savings or nest egg.
老後資金を準備するのは大切です。
It's important to prepare retirement savings.
Educational endowment insurance, a common way to save for children's education in Japan.
子供のために学資保険に入りました。
I took out an education savings plan for my child.
Pattern: 'savings for ~'. Replace ～ with the purpose.
旅行のための貯金を始めました。
I started saving for a trip.
Informal ways to refer to one's savings or nest egg.
Secret savings, often hidden from a spouse. A colloquial, slightly humorous term.
妻に内緒でへそくりを貯めている。
I'm secretly saving money without my wife knowing.
Hoarding savings; implies accumulating money without spending it. Can have a negative nuance.
彼は貯め込みが趣味だ。
Hoarding money is his hobby.
貯金 (chokin) is the most common word for personal savings in a bank. 貯蓄 (chochiku) is broader and often used in economic contexts or for the habit of saving. 預金 (yokin) specifically means bank deposits and is used in formal banking terms like 普通預金 (savings account).
私は毎月貯金をしています。
I save money every month.
貯蓄率が低下している。
The savings rate is declining.
預金残高を確認する。
Check the deposit balance.
The English loanword セービング (seebingu) is not commonly used for financial savings. It might be understood in contexts like 'energy saving' (省エネ), but for money, use 貯金 or 貯蓄.
電気代を節約するために、エアコンを消しました。
I turned off the air conditioner to save on electricity costs.