The Meaning of akaji [赤字] In Japanese

赤字
あかじ
Romaji: akaji N3

What does 赤字 mean?

Translation and Meaning

deficit, red ink

Definition

赤字 means a deficit or red ink; it denotes negative balance in financial records, indicating expenses exceed income, and is used in discussions of corporate, government, or personal budgets, often contrasted with 黒字 meaning profitable or in the black.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Financial deficit or negative balance in ledgers, budgets, or statements.
  • Figurative shortfall in resources, funding, or time.
  • Usage in media or policy discussions to denote underfunding or losses.

Composition

  • 赤: red; signals negative outcomes in financial contexts, especially in ledger marks.
  • 字: character; a written sign; together they form a concept of red ink used to denote a deficit or loss in documentation.

Usage

Used in formal and semi-formal contexts such as financial reports, budgets, and press coverage; also common in discussions of personal finances. Generally more common in written Japanese than in casual speech; used with verbs like become or appear to describe becoming or existing in deficit.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a ledger where numbers are written in red ink to mark a loss; the reading akaji evokes a red sign indicating debt or shortfall.

Variations

  • 黒字 (くろじ, kuroji) — in the black; profitability
  • 赤字経営 (あかじけいえい, akaji keiei) — deficit-driven management
  • 赤字国債 (あかじこくさい, akaji kokusai) — government bonds issued to cover deficits

Example Phrases

  • 今月は赤字が出たので、節約を始めた。
    kongetsu wa akaji ga deta node, setsuyaku o hajimeta.
    This month there was a deficit, so I started saving.
    Lista:
    • 今月は (kongetsu wa) – this month
    • 赤字 (akaji) – deficit
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 出た (deta) – came out
    • ので (node) – because
    • 節約を (setsuyaku o) – saving
    • 始めた (hajimeta) – started
    「赤字」 is the noun for deficit; here it is the subject marked by が, with ので indicating cause.
赤字