Key banking terms with kanji, kana, and romaji
Here are some key banking terms in Japanese with their kanji, kana, and romaji:
| English | Kanji | Kana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | 銀行 | ぎんこう | ginkou |
| Bank Staff | 銀行員 | ぎんこういん | ginkouin |
| Information Desk | 受付 | うけつけ | uketsuke |
| Teller Window | 窓口 | まどぐち | madoguchi |
| Numbered Ticket | 番号札 | ばんごうふだ | bangou fuda |
| Safe | 金庫 | きんこ | kinko |
| Safe-Deposit Box | 貸金庫 | かしきんこ | kashi kinko |
| Personal Seal | 判子 / 印鑑 | はんこ / いんかん | hanko / inkan |
| Bank Account | 口座 | こうざ | kouza |
| Basic Bank Account | 普通口座 | ふつうこうざ | futsuu kouza |
| Bank Account Number | 口座番号 | こうざばんごう | kouza bangou |
| Cash Card / ATM Card | キャッシュカード | - | kyasshu ka-do |
| ATM | エーティーエム | - | e-ti-emu |
| PIN / Password Number | 暗証番号 | あんしょうばんごう | anshou bangou |
| Cash | 現金 | げんきん | genkin |
| Deposit | 預金 | よきん | yokin |
| Loan | 貸金 / ローン | かしきん / ローン | kashikin / ro-n |
| Debt | 借金 | しゃっきん | shakkin |
| Repayment | 返済 | へんさい | hensai |
| Cash Withdrawal | 引き出し | ひきだし | hikidashi |
| Cash Deposit | 預け入れ | あずけいれ | azukeire |
| Transfer | 振替 | ふりかえ | furikae |
| Balance | 残高 | ざんだか | zandaka |
| Passbook / Bankbook | 通帳 | つうちょう | tsuuchou |
| Service Charge / Commission | 手数料 | てすうりょう | tesuuryou |
| Paper Money / Bill / Note | 紙幣 | しへい | shihei |
| Coin | 硬貨 | こうか | kouka |
| Money Exchange | 両替 | りょうがえ | ryougae |
| Foreign Currency Exchange | 外貨両替 | がいかりょうがえ | gaika ryougae |
| Yen | 円 | えん | en |
How these terms are used in real banking situations
In Japanese banks, the most useful words are the ones that help with simple actions: opening an account, making a deposit, withdrawing cash, checking a balance, and asking about fees. A small set of nouns covers most interactions at a branch or ATM, and many signs use the same vocabulary in a highly standardized way.
At a bank branch, 窓口（まどぐち, madoguchi） refers to the service counter where a staff member handles requests. 受付（うけつけ, uketsuke） is the reception or information desk, often where a visitor first checks in or takes a numbered ticket. 番号札（ばんごうふだ, bangou fuda） is the ticket used in queue systems, which are common in Japanese branches.
Account and card vocabulary
口座（こうざ, kouza） is the general word for a bank account, while 普通口座（ふつうこうざ, futsuu kouza） means a regular everyday account. 口座番号（こうざばんごう, kouza bangou） is the account number, and 残高（ざんだか, zandaka） is the balance. These are among the most frequent terms on bank forms, ATM screens, and statements.
A キャッシュカード（kyasshu ka-do） is a cash card or ATM card used for withdrawals and deposits. Japanese ATM interfaces often ask for 暗証番号（あんしょうばんごう, anshou bangou）, meaning the PIN or password number. In practice, this is the code entered before a transaction is approved.
Cash, deposits, and withdrawals
現金（げんきん, genkin） means cash. 預金（よきん, yokin） refers to money on deposit in a bank. 引き出し（ひきだし, hikidashi） is a cash withdrawal, and 預け入れ（あずけいれ, azukeire） is a cash deposit. These terms often appear on ATM buttons, making them especially important for everyday use.
紙幣（しへい, shihei） means banknotes, and 硬貨（こうか, kouka） means coins. 円（えん, en） is the yen, Japan’s currency, and it is used for prices, balances, and withdrawals. 両替（りょうがえ, ryougae） means exchanging money, while 外貨両替（がいかりょうがえ, gaika ryougae） specifically means exchanging foreign currency.
Loans, debt, and repayment
貸金（かしきん, kashikin） and ローン（ro-n） both relate to loans, though ローン is the more common modern loan word in everyday speech. 借金（しゃっきん, shakkin） means debt. 返済（へんさい, hensai） is repayment, the action of paying back what is owed. These words are used in loan contracts, account notices, and financial discussions.
Fees and small but important details
手数料（てすうりょう, tesuuryou） means a service charge or commission. Banks often apply this to transfers, card replacement, or foreign currency exchange. Fee notices in Japan are usually written clearly, so recognizing this word can prevent surprises at the counter or ATM.
通帳（つうちょう, tsuuchou） is a passbook or bankbook, still commonly used in Japan for recording deposits, withdrawals, and balances. Even though many services are digital, passbooks remain familiar in day-to-day banking, especially for older accounts and some personal banking procedures.
Pronunciation notes that help in conversation
Romanization can be useful, but the Japanese pronunciation matters more in actual banking situations. Long vowels are important: こうざ is pronounced kouza, not “koza,” and てすうりょう is tesuuryou, with a drawn-out final sound. The same applies to ぎんこう (ginkou) and つうちょう (tsuuchou).
Some loanwords are pronounced in a distinctly Japanese way. キャッシュカード sounds like kyasshu ka-do, and ATM is often read as エーティーエム, syllable by syllable. In fast speech, bank staff may also shorten or blur these terms, so recognition is often more useful than perfect production at first.
Common points of confusion
振替（ふりかえ, furikae） is often translated as transfer, but it can refer to a bank-to-bank transfer or an account adjustment depending on context. 預金（よきん） is not the same as 預け入れ（あずけいれ）: the first is the money held in a deposit account, while the second is the act of depositing cash.
貸金（かしきん） and 借金（しゃっきん） are also easy to confuse. The first is tied to lending or loaned money, while the second means debt owed by the borrower. In everyday conversation, ローン is usually the safest and most natural loan term for beginners to recognize.
Short phrases that often appear at banks and ATMs
- 口座番号: account number
- 残高照会: balance inquiry
- 現金引き出し: cash withdrawal
- 現金預け入れ: cash deposit
- 手数料: fee
- 両替: exchange money
These compound expressions are especially common on ATM screens and printed notices. Recognizing the core nouns inside them makes machine menus and branch forms much easier to understand.
Quick reference for learners
The most practical banking words to remember first are 口座, 残高, 現金, 引き出し, 預け入れ, 手数料, キャッシュカード, and 暗証番号. Together, they cover the most common tasks: checking money, moving money, and using an ATM. Regular conversation practice with short, task-based phrases helps these terms become usable faster than passive memorization alone.
This list provides essential banking-related vocabulary useful for navigating banks and ATMs in Japan, covering terms related to accounts, cash handling, cards, loans, and other banking services.