abacus; soroban
Refers to the Japanese abacus, a physical calculating tool with beads on rods.
I learned the abacus when I was a child.
Calculating with an abacus is fun.
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).
He always thinks about things in terms of profit and loss.
This plan doesn't add up financially.
The shopkeeper worked the abacus to get the total.
This business doesn't add up financially.
I used to go to abacus lessons as a child.
そろばん is the physical abacus device itself, whereas 珠算 refers to the skill or act of calculating with it.
stand; base; platform; table; rack · setting (of a gem); mounting · stock (in grafting) · counter for machines and vehicles · level; mark; range; decade (of one's life) · tall building (with a fine view); observation platform · plateau; heights
Ateji spelling; rarely used and mostly of historical interest.
Rare kanji form; not commonly encountered.