Japanese word

罰金

Pronunciation

Romajibakkin

Meaning

  • nounfine

Example

罰金を払います。bak kin o hara i ma su

I pay a fine.

Illustration for 罰金 (fine)

More examples

規則に違反すると、罰金が科されることがあります。ki soku ni i han su ru to bak kin ga ka sa re ru ko to ga a ri ma su

A fine may be imposed for breaking the rules.

Core concept

It marks wrongdoing with a required payment rather than imprisonment or another form of punishment.

Common phrases

  • 罰金を払うbak kin o hara u

    pay a fine

  • 罰金を科すbak kin o ka su

    impose a fine

Similar words

科料karyō: A legally imposed payment used as punishment for a relatively minor crime.
過料karyō: A noncriminal payment required for violating an administrative regulation.
反則金hansokukin: A payment made under an administrative procedure for certain traffic violations.
課徴金kachōkin: A monetary penalty imposed by an authority for specific regulatory violations.

Definition in Japanese

違反や過失に対して、罰として支払わせる金銭。i han ya ka shitsu ni tai shi te batsu to shi te shi hara wa se ru kin sen

Word origin

As a Sino-Japanese compound, 罰金 (bakkin, "fine") consists of 罰 (batsu, "punishment") and 金 (kin, "money"); its form reflects the sound change from batsu-kin to bakkin.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese news and legal writing, 罰金 (bakkin) usually has a formal tone because it refers to a legal monetary sanction rather than an ordinary fee or surcharge.

Other meanings

  • penaltynoun

Word lists with this word