godan verb (-gu), transitive verb
earn income; make money
The core modern use: to earn money or income through work, business, or other activity. Common with お金, 生活費, 給料, and specific amounts.
アルバイトで月に十万円を稼いでいる。
I earn 100,000 yen a month from my part-time job.
彼女は自分で生活費を稼いで
She earns her own living expenses.
godan verb (-gu), transitive verb
score points; gain a win or result
Extended use for accumulating points, goals, wins, or other measurable results, especially in sports, games, and performance contexts.
前半だけで三点を稼いだ。
They scored three points in the first half alone.
この選手は毎試合確実に得点を稼ぐ。
This player reliably scores points in every game.
godan verb (-gu), transitive verb
gain time; play for time
Common fixed-like extension in 時間を稼ぐ, meaning to buy time or delay matters so that more time becomes available.
救助隊が来るまで、何とか時間を稼いだ。
We somehow bought time until the rescue team arrived.
彼は質問に長く答えて時間を稼いだ。
He gave a long answer to the question to play for time.
godan verb (-gu), intransitive verb
Intransitive use meaning to work hard at one's job. It often overlaps with the idea of earning money, but the focus is on laboring or working energetically rather than on a direct object earned.
若いころは寝る間も惜しんで稼いだ。
When I was young, I worked so hard I barely took time to sleep.
父は家族のために朝から晩まで稼いだ。
My father worked from morning to night for his family.