Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
ピンはね Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb, intransitive verb
skimming off the top ; taking a cut ; pocketing a kickback
usually written using kana alone
Refers to the act of secretly taking a portion of money that belongs to someone else, often in business or illegal contexts. Can be used as a noun or a suru-verb.
仲ちゅう
介かい
業ぎょう
者しゃ
が
手て
数すう
料りょう
の
上うえ
に
さらに
ピンはね
する
ケース
が
ある
。
There are cases where the intermediary takes an extra cut on top of the commission.
Written forms ピンはね Usage 35%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
ピンハネ Usage 65%
kana-only spelling
Katakana-only spelling, also common.
ピン 撥は ね
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.
Kanji 撥 brush up, reject, exclude Similar words 上うわ 前まえ をはねる A more traditional phrase meaning to take a cut, often used in contexts like gambling or illicit profits. ピンはね is a more modern, slangy equivalent.
横おう 領りょう Refers to embezzlement, a more serious and formal term. ピンはね is more casual and often implies smaller-scale skimming.
Etymology The origin is uncertain. It may be a compound of ピン (pin, possibly from Portuguese 'pinta' meaning a spot or mark, or a mimetic word) and 撥ね (hane, from 撥ねる 'to flick off'), suggesting the idea of flicking off a small portion. The exact derivation is unclear.