へそくり

へ

そ

く

り

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

secret savings; hidden money; nest egg

usually written using kana alone

Refers to money saved secretly, often by a spouse or family member without the knowledge of others. Commonly used in domestic contexts.

妻つまに内ない緒しょでへそくりをためている。
I'm secretly saving money without my wife knowing.
彼かれはへそくりで新あたらしいカメラを買かった。
He bought a new camera with his secret savings.

See all 7 example sentences ›

Kanji

臍navel
繰winding, reel, spin
綜rule, synthesize
麻hemp, flax, numb

Related words

貯ちょ金きん
貯金 is general savings, while へそくり specifically implies money hidden from family or partners.
隠かくし金がね
隠し金 is a more direct term for hidden money, but へそくり carries a lighter, often domestic nuance.

Word family

へそくり金がね
secret savings; nest egg

Built from

へそ+繰くる

Written forms

へそくりUsage57%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
ヘソクリUsage43%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling, sometimes used for emphasis or in casual writing.
臍へそ繰くり
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
綜麻繰へそくり
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. One theory suggests it derives from 綜麻繰り (へそくり), an old term for winding hemp yarn, possibly linked to the idea of secretly putting something aside. The kanji 臍 (navel) is likely ateji.