Excluding breaks, the actual working time was four hours.
Measurement use: the weight or contents of the product itself, not including packaging or container weight. Often appears on labels as 正味 followed by a weight.
ラベルには「正味300グラム」と書いてある。
The label says “net weight 300 grams.”
Commercial or accounting use: the price after deductions such as discounts or charges, or the underlying cost price depending on context. Common in compounds such as 正味価格.
割引後の正味価格を見積書に記入した。
I entered the net price after the discount in the estimate.
actual content; substantive part; useful part
Refers to the real substance or useful portion after removing padding, formalities, or irrelevant material.
長い報告書だが、正味は数ページしかない。
It is a long report, but the substantive content is only a few pages.
Of the three-hour meeting, only two hours were actually productive.
This package weighs 10 kilograms net.
We measure the net weight of the product before boxing it.
After deducting the fee, it comes to 5,000 yen net.