The same character is also commonly found at the end of money words, then read kin, to express various sorts of monetary transactions.
Most of the time, unfortunately, these are to a person’s detriment, as in the case of 借金 (shakkin, debt) or 罰金 (bakkin, fine). In addition, there are fees like入会金 (nyūkaikin, admission fee) and 入学金 (nyūgakukin, entrance fee for a school), as well as the nasty 敷金 (shikikin, deposit) and 礼金 (reikin, “key money”), both of which are often required when renting an apartment.
On the other hand, the good news is that there are also a few expressions in the 金 family that are about incoming rather than outgoing money. 年金 (nenkin, pension), for instance, provided there’s anything left at the end of the day. There are also various types of financial support, such as 助成金 (joseikin, grant-in-aid), 補助金 (hojokin, subsidy) and 奨学金 (shōgakukin, scholarship).
Another main entry in the Japanese money lexicon is 料 (ryō), as in 料金 (ryōkin, fee). Most annoying is the unspecified 手数料 (tesūryō, handling fee) that comes with even the smallest bureaucratic acts. When using toll roads, there will be 通行料 (tsūkōryō, toll), but that’s just peanuts in comparison with other fees that may be waiting down the road of life, such as, in order of appearance, 結婚仲介料 (kekkon chūkairyō,marriage brokerage fee) and 慰謝料 (isharyō, consolation money). 手切れ金 (tegirekin, alimony) is another word that may be used in times of relationship breakups, mostly adultery.
Less spectacular expenses are commonly expressed using the character 費 (hi, fee). These include 生活費 (seikatsuhi, living expenses), 交通費 (kōtsūhi, transportation costs), 教育費 (kyōikuhi, education expenses), 医療費 (iryōhi, medical expenses) and 維持費 (ijihi, maintenance costs), to name but a few. When it’s unnecessary (or just unwise, or both) to specify the nature of the expenses to be claimed, the catch-all 諸経費 (shokeihi, various expenses) can be used.
Like 金 and 料, 費, too, is frequently used for fees and charges. You’ll find it in terms such as 年会費 (nenkaihi, annual membership fees) and 参加費 (sankahi, participation fee). And if you are invited to a party that’s 会費制 (kaihisei, a system requiring membership or participation fees), be sure to bring some money because you’re expected to pay for yourself.
Incidentally, one of the very few words where 費 is not about losses but gains is the scientist’s beloved 科研費 (kakenhi), short for 科学研究費助成事業 (kagaku kenkyūhi josei jigyō), which is a research grant-in-aid funded by the Japanese government. The term for general research funding is 研究費 (kenkyūhi).
Also good to know is 賃 (chin), which occurs in the two terms 家賃 (yachin¸ rent) and 運賃 (unchin, fare for freight or passengers). In addition, it is frequently used in the context of income and wages, as in 賃上げ (chin-age, pay raise) or, the much less pleasant 賃金カット (chingin katto, pay cut).
Speaking of money for labor, another essential character in this lexical field is 給 (ryō), as in 給料 (kyūryō, salary, pay). Types of payments include 時給 (jikyū¸ payment by the hour), 月給 (gekkyū, monthly pay) and 日給 (nikkyū, daily pay). In addition, there are 日当 (nittō, daily pay) and 年収 (nenshū, annual income), both of which for some reason use different characters. Where more abstract language is required, people will go for terms such as 報酬 (hōshū, remuneration) or 手当 (teate, salary, allowance), as in 年末手当 (nenmatsu teate, year-end allowance), or what is more casually known as ボーナス (bōnasu, bonus).
When the idea of “exchange” is to be emphasized, 代 (dai, shiro) comes in handy. It occurs in expressions like 部屋代 (heyadai¸ room charge), 車代 (kurumadai, car charge), and 酒代 (sakadai or sakashiro, drinking money; tip).
Most conscious of the taboo to talk about money are terms like 月謝 (gessha, monthly tuition fee), which literally translates as “monthly gratitude,” as well as お礼 (o-rei, gratitude) and お祝い (o-iwai, celebration), which are expressions you’ll frequently read when envelopes with smaller and larger amounts change hands.
If you have spent the winter break in Japan, the term you must have come across most recently is お年玉 (o-toshidama). The word has no money characters, but it refers to the money children get from older family members to celebrate the New Year. It is said to have derived from an old ritual in which round rice cakes (餅玉, mochidama) were distributed in the household. Children will of course always appreciate it, by whatever name it comes.