Japanese word

赤字

Pronunciation

Romajiakaji

Meaning

  • nounin the red

Example

会社は三年連続で赤字です。kai sha wa san nen ren zoku de aka ji de su

The company has been in the red for three years in a row.

Illustration for 赤字 (in the red)

More examples

市は予算の赤字を減らすため、支出を見直しました。shi wa yo san no aka ji o he ra su ta me shi shutsu o mi nao shi ma shi ta

The city reviewed its spending to reduce the budget deficit.

Core concept

Describes a balance that falls below zero because costs exceed the money earned or received.

Common phrases

  • 赤字を出すaka ji o da su

    run a deficit

  • 赤字になるaka ji ni na ru

    go into the red

  • 赤字を減らすaka ji o he ra su

    reduce a deficit

  • 赤字が続くaka ji ga tsuzu ku

    remain in the red

  • 赤字を補うaka ji o ogina u

    cover a deficit

Similar words

欠損kesson: A deficit shown in financial accounts because expenditure is greater than revenue.
損失sonshitsu: The amount of money lost through an operation, investment, or transaction.

Definition in Japanese

事業や家計などで、入る金より出る金が多いこと。ji gyō ya ka kei na do de hai ru kane yo ri de ru kane ga ō i ko to

Word origin

赤字 (akaji, "deficit") is formed from 赤 (aka, "red") and 字 (ji, "character"), referring to the red characters traditionally used to record negative results in accounts.

Usage tips

  • Japanese speakers can call a budget 赤字 (akaji) when planned spending exceeds planned income, even before any money is actually lost.

Other meanings

  • deficitnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word