Translation guide
Usury refers to lending money at unreasonably high interest rates. In Japanese, the concept is expressed through specific legal and financial terms, as well as colloquial expressions for exploitative lending.
The practice of lending money at excessively high interest rates, often illegal or unethical.
The most common and direct term for usury or loan sharking. It refers to the act of lending at high interest, or the person who does it.
He made a fortune through usury.
Literally 'high interest'. Often used in compounds or formal contexts to describe usurious rates.
High-interest loans are regulated by law.
Means 'exorbitant profits' or 'profiteering'. Used for usury in the sense of making unfair profits from lending.
Loan sharks who engage in usury became a problem.
Usury in the context of laws regulating interest rates, often referring to illegal lending practices.
Refers to violation of the Interest Rate Restriction Law. This is the legal term for usury in Japan.
The lender was prosecuted for usury (violating the Interest Rate Restriction Law).
Violation of the Investment Law, which also covers usurious lending. Often used alongside the Interest Rate Restriction Law.
The person or business that engages in usury, often in an illegal or exploitative manner.
Literally 'dark finance'. Refers to illegal, unregistered lenders who charge exorbitant interest rates.
If you borrow from a loan shark, you'll be charged outrageous interest.
Abbreviation of 'salaryman loan'. Refers to consumer finance companies that often charge high interest, sometimes associated with usury.
Short for 闇金融. Very common colloquial term for illegal loan sharks.
Usury as a sin or prohibited practice in historical or religious contexts, especially in Christianity or Islam.
A neutral phrase meaning 'taking interest'. In religious contexts, this is often how usury is described, as the concept of charging any interest was historically prohibited.
In medieval Europe, usury (taking interest) was considered a sin.
Literally 'the sin of usury'. Used in religious discussions.
The English word 'usury' is often translated as 高利貸し, but in everyday Japanese, people more commonly refer to specific types of lenders (ヤミ金, サラ金) or use legal terms. Using 高利貸し can sound old-fashioned or literary.
高利貸し is a general term for usury or a usurer, while 闇金融 (or ヤミ金) specifically refers to illegal, unregistered lenders. In modern contexts, ヤミ金 is more common when talking about loan sharks.
Charging interest rates that violate the Investment Law is a crime.
サラ金の高金利が社会問題になった。
The high interest rates of consumer loan companies became a social issue.
ヤミ金に手を出すと危険だ。
It's dangerous to get involved with loan sharks.
The Bible forbids the sin of usury.