現金（げんきん、genkiん）
- cash

The Japanese word 現金 (げんきん) means "cash," "ready money," or "hard currency." It refers to money in the form of physical currency, such as banknotes and coins, as opposed to other forms of payment like credit cards, checks, or electronic transfers. The concept encompasses the tangible form of money available immediately for transactions.

⚫︎現金払い Translation: Cash payment ⚫︎現金で支払いますか？ Translation: Will you pay with cash? ⚫︎この店では、クレジットカードと現金どちらでも使えます。 Translation: At this store, you can use both credit cards and cash.

⚫︎You'll typically use 現金 when you're talking about paying for something with actual currency. ⚫︎It’s used in various contexts, such as at stores, restaurants, and when discussing finances in general. ⚫︎It’s a very common and practical word.

⚫︎The word 現金 is primarily written in kanji. ⚫︎The reading is げんきん in hiragana. ⚫︎There is no other way to write it as it's a compound word using kanji. ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana.

There aren’t direct single-word synonyms that perfectly replace 現金, as it is a specific term. However, you can use phrases that convey a similar meaning: ⚫︎キャッシュ (kyasshu): This is the katakana loanword for "cash." ⚫︎お金 (okane): This means "money" in general, but the context will often clarify if it refers to cash.

The antonyms are terms referring to non-cash payment methods. ⚫︎クレジットカード (kurejittokādo): Credit card ⚫︎電子マネー (denshi manē): Electronic money ⚫︎小切手 (kogitte): Check

財布に現金が足りないから、ATMに行こう。 ・Translation: I don't have enough cash in my wallet, so let's go to the ATM. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 現金 to describe a lack of physical money, prompting a need to withdraw more.

現金での支払いをご希望ですか、それともクレジットカードですか？ ・Translation: Would you like to pay with cash or a credit card? ・Explanation: This is a typical question asked by store clerks, clearly indicating options involving 現金.

The word 現金 is a compound word formed from two kanji: 現 (gen), which means "present" or "actual," and 金 (kin), which means "money" or "gold." Together, it literally means "present money" or "actual money," accurately describing the readily available currency.