JLPT · Level 174
15 words
Japanese word
倹約
Pronunciation
Romajiken'yaku
Meaning
- nounfrugality
Example
倹約すると、お金がたまります。ken yaku su ru to o kane ga ta ma ri ma su
When we practice frugality, we save money.
More examples
家計簿をつけると、倹約を続けやすくなります。ka kei bo o tsu ke ru to ken yaku o tsuzu ke ya su ku na ri ma su
Keeping a household budget makes it easier to practice frugality.
Core concept
Describes deliberately limiting spending or the use of resources so that little is wasted.
Common phrases
倹約に努めるken yaku ni tsuto me ru
strive for frugality
倹約を心がけるken yaku o kokoro ga ke ru
practice frugality
Similar words
節約setsuyaku: Reducing spending or resource use by avoiding unnecessary consumption.
Definition in Japanese
金銭や物資などをむだに使わず、出費を抑えること。kin sen ya bus shi na do o mu da ni tsuka wa zu shup pi o osa e ru ko to
Word origin
倹約 (ken'yaku) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 倹 (ken, "frugal") and 約 (yaku, "restraint"), joining frugality with limitation.
Usage tips
- The English word frugality can describe a respected lifestyle, and 倹約 (ken'yaku) likewise need not suggest poverty when it describes a person's spending habits.