deposit; money paid on account; bargain money
Refers to a partial payment made in advance to secure a transaction or as a down payment. The distinction between a general deposit and bargain money is slight; both are covered here.
I paid 50,000 yen as a deposit at the time of the contract.
Please put down a deposit to confirm the reservation.
Compound of 内 (うち, 'inside, partial') and 金 (きん, 'money'), literally 'partial money'.