The Meaning of ryōkin [料金] In Japanese

料金
りょうきん
Romaji: ryōkin N5

What does 料金 mean?

Translation and Meaning

price, fee, charge

Definition

What does 料金 mean? It is the amount of money charged for goods, services, or access. In Japanese usage it denotes the price you pay for something or for entry to an activity, and it appears in pricing tables, tickets, and service charges.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • General price or fee for goods/services
  • Admission or entry fee for events or facilities
  • Transportation fares or tolls
  • Shipping or handling charges

Etymology

料金 combines 料 (fee, charge) and 金 (money); the reading is ryōkin and the word expresses a monetary charge as a single noun.

Composition

  • 料: fee, charge
  • 金: money
  • 合わさって: the two kanji indicate a monetary charge, yielding a noun that means the amount to be paid

Usage

Used in pricing contexts, contracts, menus, tickets, and official documents; the form is typically formal or neutral, and appears in written price lists, signage, and customer communications. In casual speech people may refer to 料金 when discussing costs but will often use more casual terms or the specific item price instead.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a price tag where the tag shows 料 as the fee and 金 as the money you hand over; together they signal the required payment.

Variations

  • 値段 (nedan) — price, casual
  • 費用 (hiyou) — cost or expense
  • 料金 (ryōkin) — official fee or charge
  • チケット代 (chiketto-dai) — ticket price

Example Phrases

  • 電車の 料金 は いつも 変わる から 注意してね
    Densha no ryōkin wa itsumo kawaru kara chūi shite ne.
    The train fare always changes, so please be careful.
    Lista:
    • 電車の (Densha no) – train’s
    • 料金 (ryōkin) – fare
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • いつも (itsumo) – always
    • 変わる (kawaru) – change
    • から (kara) – because
    • 注意してね (chūi shite ne) – please be careful
    The word 「料金」 means ‘fare/fee’. Here it forms 電車の料金 with の to show possession/association, and は marks the topic.
料金