礼金（れいきん、reikin）
- key money

礼金 (れいきん, reikinn) is a unique Japanese concept referring to a "key money" or "gift money" paid by a tenant to a landlord at the beginning of a rental agreement. It's essentially a non-refundable payment given as a gesture of appreciation for the privilege of renting the property. This money is not returned to the tenant at the end of the lease. The amount varies depending on the property, location, and the landlord. It is a cultural practice deeply rooted in Japanese housing customs.

⚫︎礼金は家賃の2ヶ月分です。 Translation: The 礼金 is two months' rent. ⚫︎このアパートには礼金がありません。 Translation: There is no 礼金 for this apartment. ⚫︎礼金を払うのは少し負担です。 Translation: Paying the 礼金 is a bit of a burden.

You use the word 礼金 when discussing or inquiring about the financial terms of a rental agreement. It is most commonly used when looking at apartments or houses to rent. You can ask about the amount of the 礼金 or whether it exists at all. It's essential information when budgeting for your living expenses in Japan.

礼金 is written in kanji as 礼金, and the reading is usually given in hiragana as れいきん. There are no other ways to write it, and the okurigana (the suffix hiragana) remains the same.

There aren't direct synonyms for 礼金 in Japanese, as it is a specific term. However, you might use phrases to express similar ideas, such as: ⚫︎ 敷金 (しききん, shikikin): security deposit. This is a refundable deposit, unlike 礼金.

There is no direct antonym, but you could consider the absence of 礼金.

この物件は《礼金なしで入居できます。》 ・Translation: You can move into this property without 礼金. ・Explanation: This sentence indicates that no key money is required for the rental.

初めての賃貸なので、《礼金について詳しく知りたいです。》 ・Translation: Since it's my first rental, I'd like to know more about the 礼金. ・Explanation: This sentence shows the user is requesting more detailed information about 礼金.

The etymology of 礼金 stems from the kanji characters: 礼 (rei), meaning "thanks" or "courtesy," and 金 (kin), meaning "money." It reflects the original purpose of the payment: a monetary expression of gratitude and appreciation from the tenant to the landlord for the use of the property. The practice is said to have originated during the post-World War II period in Japan.