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How to say 'Money' in Japanese | お年玉

Wondering how to say 'Money' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Money is 'Otoshidama', written as お年玉 in Japanese.'Money' in hiragana is おとしだま.

    word

    お年玉

    Meaning

    Money

    Reading

    おとしだま

    otoshidama

    Kanji

    年Year 玉Ball, Jewel

    Explanation

    The Japanese noun 'お年玉 (おとしだま)' refers to money given as a gift, typically during the New Year's holiday. It is a traditional custom in Japan where adults, especially parents and relatives, give money to children in small decorative envelopes called 'ポチ袋 (ぽちぶくろ)'. This practice is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and symbolizes good wishes for the new year. Example sentences: I received New Year's money from my uncle「おじさんからお年玉をもらいました」(おじさんからおとしだまをもらいました). Children are excited to receive New Year's money「子供たちはお年玉をもらうのを楽しみにしています」(こどもたちはおとしだまをもらうのをたのしみにしています).

    Part Of Speech

    noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N2

    Kanji Grade

    1

    Frequency

    4943

    Composition

    kanji-hiragana

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word お年玉

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    年

    Meaning

    Year

  • kanji

    玉

    Meaning

    Ball, Jewel

Hiragana in the Word お年玉

This word contains 1 Hiragana character :

  • hiragana

    お

    Reading

    O

Words Related to お年玉 Through the Kanji 年

These 46 Words contain the Kanji 年 as well.

  • word

    年

    Meaning

    Year

  • word

    年下

    Meaning

    Younger

  • word

    一昨年

    Meaning

    Year before last

  • word

    年間

    Meaning

    Year

  • word

    少年

    Meaning

    Boy

  • word

    年金

    Meaning

    Pension

  • word

    年齢

    Meaning

    Age

  • word

    年度

    Meaning

    Year, Fiscal

  • word

    青年

    Meaning

    Youth

  • word

    今年

    Meaning

    This year

  • word

    再来年

    Meaning

    Year after next

  • word

    万年筆

    Meaning

    Fountain pen

  • word

    年賀状

    Meaning

    New years card

  • word

    毎年

    Meaning

    Every year

  • word

    生年月日

    Meaning

    Birthdate

  • word

    半年

    Meaning

    Half year

  • word

    近年

    Meaning

    Recent

  • word

    翌年

    Meaning

    Next year

  • word

    年寄り

    Meaning

    Elderly

  • word

    昨年

    Meaning

    Last year

  • word

    元年

    Meaning

    First year

  • word

    去年

    Meaning

    Last year

  • word

    長年

    Meaning

    Many years

  • word

    年月

    Meaning

    Years

  • word

    年月日

    Meaning

    Date

  • word

    年々

    Meaning

    Yearly

  • word

    年代

    Meaning

    Era, Age

  • word

    中年

    Meaning

    Middle age

  • word

    年中

    Meaning

    Year round

  • word

    学年

    Meaning

    Grade

  • word

    同年

    Meaning

    Same year

  • word

    本年

    Meaning

    This year

  • word

    晩年

    Meaning

    Later years

  • word

    年長

    Meaning

    Older

  • word

    年末

    Meaning

    Year end

  • word

    来年

    Meaning

    Next year

  • word

    忘年会

    Meaning

    Year end party

  • word

    年配

    Meaning

    Elderly

  • word

    年収

    Meaning

    Annual income

  • word

    定年

    Meaning

    Retirement

  • word

    年始

    Meaning

    New year

  • word

    前年

    Meaning

    Previous year

  • word

    年上

    Meaning

    Older

  • word

    未成年

    Meaning

    Minor

  • word

    例年

    Meaning

    Usual year

  • word

    年賀

    Meaning

    New years card

Words Related to お年玉 Through the Kanji 玉

These 2 Words contain the Kanji 玉 as well.

  • word

    玉

    Meaning

    Ball, Jewel

  • word

    玉ねぎ

    Meaning

    Onion

Learn the Word お年玉

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Otoshidama' (お年玉) mean?

'Otoshidama' means 'Money' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.