also: ぜんきんばらい
payment in advance; prepayment
Refers to paying the full amount or a deposit before receiving goods or services. Common in business and travel contexts.
The hotel reservation requires payment in advance.
The goods I ordered with prepayment haven't arrived yet.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading まえきんばらい is the most common.
Alternate reading; less common but still used.
Compound of 前金 (まえきん, 'advance payment') + 払い (ばらい, 'payment', from 払う).