Translation guide
The act of using money to buy goods or services. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 支出 (ししゅつ), but depending on context, other words like 消費 (しょうひ) or 費やす (ついやす) may be more natural. This guide covers key terms and patterns for expressing 'spending' in various situations.
To refer to the act of spending money in general, often in economic or financial contexts.
The most direct translation for 'spending' as a noun. Used in formal and everyday contexts, such as household budgets or government expenditure.
今月の支出を減らさなければならない。
We need to reduce our spending this month.
政府の支出は増加している。
Government spending is increasing.
Often translated as 'consumption' or 'spending', especially in economic contexts. Emphasizes the use of goods and services rather than just the outflow of money.
個人消費が経済を支えている。
Consumer spending supports the economy.
Refers to expenses or outlays, often used in personal finance. Slightly more concrete than 支出.
旅行の出費がかさんだ。
Travel spending has piled up.
To express the action of spending money.
The most common verb for 'to spend (money)'. Transitive verb. Used in everyday conversation.
毎月、食費にいくら使いますか？
How much do you spend on food every month?
無駄遣いをしないで、お金を大切に使いなさい。
Don't waste money; spend it wisely.
A more formal or literary verb meaning 'to spend (money, time, effort)'. Often used in written language.
Means 'to consume' or 'to spend' in the sense of using up resources. More common in economic or environmental contexts.
この製品は多くのエネルギーを消費する。
This product consumes a lot of energy.
To express spending time (not money). Note that the same verbs can be used, but the object changes.
The most natural verb for 'spending time' in a certain way or at a place. Transitive.
週末は家族と過ごすのが好きです。
I like spending weekends with my family.
Can also be used for spending time, often with a nuance of using it up on something, sometimes with a negative connotation.
Can be used for time as well, but 過ごす is more common for how time is spent. 使う emphasizes using time as a resource.
To talk about reducing spending.
A common compound noun meaning 'spending cuts' or 'expenditure reduction'.
政府は支出削減を発表した。
The government announced spending cuts.
Specifically refers to cutting costs or expenses, often in a business context.
会社は経費削減に取り組んでいる。
The company is working on cost-cutting.
支出 is the most general term for spending/expenditure. 出費 often refers to personal expenses or outlays. 消費 emphasizes consumption of goods/services and is common in economic contexts like 'consumer spending' (個人消費).
The English loanword スペンディング is not commonly used in Japanese. Stick to native terms like 支出 or 消費.
彼は多額の金をギャンブルに費やした。
He spent a large amount of money on gambling.
彼は多くの時間をゲームに費やしている。
He spends a lot of time on games.
Let's spend our time effectively.