Japanese word

節約

Pronunciation

Romajisetsuyaku

Meaning

  • nounsaving

Example

毎日お金を節約します。mai nichi o kane o setsu yaku shi ma su

I save money.

Illustration for 節約 (saving)

More examples

外食を減らして、食費を節約しています。gai shoku o he ra shi te shoku hi o setsu yaku shi te i ma su

I am saving on food expenses by eating out less.

Core concept

Describes deliberately reducing what is spent or consumed, especially by avoiding waste.

Common phrases

  • お金の節約o kane no setsu yaku

    saving money

  • 時間の節約ji kan no setsu yaku

    time savings

  • 電気代の節約den ki dai no setsu yaku

    saving on electricity bills

Similar words

倹約kenyaku: The practice of limiting spending and resource use to prevent waste.
切り詰めkiritsume: A reduction in expenses achieved by cutting out less important costs.

Definition in Japanese

必要以上に使わないようにして、支出や資源の消費を減らすこと。hitsu yō i jō ni tsuka wa na i yō ni shi te shi shutsu ya shi gen no shō hi o he ra su ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 節約 (setsuyaku) joins 節 (setsu, "moderation") with 約 (yaku, "restriction"), giving the sense of limiting use.

Usage tips

  • The phrase 電気を節約する (denki o setsuyaku suru) refers to using less electricity, showing that 節約 (setsuyaku) covers resources as well as money.

Opposites

Related words

  • 節約家setsuyakukathrifty personnoun

Word lists with this word