noun
abacus; soroban
Refers to the Japanese abacus, a physical calculating tool with beads on rods.
子供の頃、そろばんを習っていました。
I learned the abacus when I was a child.
そろばんで計算
Calculating with an abacus is fun.
noun
calculation; reckoning; profit-and-loss calculation
Figurative use, often in business contexts, referring to counting or calculating gains and losses. Common in phrases like そろばんが合う (the accounts balance) or そろばん勘定 (calculating in terms of money).
彼はいつもそろばん勘定で物事を考える。
He always thinks about things in terms of profit and loss.
この計画はそろばんが合わない。
This plan doesn't add up financially.