借金（しゃっきん、shaっkin）
- debt

The Japanese word 借金 (しゃっきん, *shakkin*) directly translates to "debt" or "loan" in English. It refers to a sum of money that one person or entity owes to another. This can be for various reasons, such as borrowing money from a bank, a friend, or owing money for goods or services received. The concept encompasses both the principal amount and any accrued interest. The state of having 借金 implies a financial obligation that needs to be repaid.

⚫︎彼借金がたくさんある。 Translation: He has a lot of debt. ⚫︎銀行から借金をした。 Translation: I took out a loan from the bank. ⚫︎彼女は借金の返済に苦労している。 Translation: She is struggling to repay her debt.

You use 借金 when you're talking about owing money or having a debt. It’s a common word used in everyday conversations, business contexts, and when discussing personal finances. You can use it to talk about existing debts, taking out a loan, or the process of repaying debts. It is suitable for various levels of formality, although more formal language might be preferred in some situations (e.g., in a legal setting).

借金 is typically written in kanji as 借金, with the reading しゃっきん in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write it. The okurigana is fixed; there are no variations.

⚫︎ 負債（ふさい, *fusai*): Another word for debt, often used in more formal or business contexts. ⚫︎ 借り（かり, *kari*): This means "borrowing" or "loan," and can sometimes be used to refer to the debt itself, especially in more casual conversation.

⚫︎ 資産 (しさん, *shisan*): Assets or possessions, something you *own*, opposite of what you *owe*. ⚫︎ 返済 (へんさい, *hensai*): Repayment, the act of paying back a debt.

彼はギャンブルで大きな借金を作ってしまった。 ・Translation: He incurred a large debt through gambling. ・Explanation: This sentence explains how someone got into debt, specifically through a negative activity.

来月には借金をすべて返済する予定です。 ・Translation: I plan to repay all my debts next month. ・Explanation: This sentence describes an intention to eliminate debt.

The word 借金 is a compound word. 借 (しゃく, *shaku*) means "to borrow" or "to lend," and 金 (きん, *kin*) means "money" or "gold." Therefore, 借金 literally means "borrowed money" or "loan." The meaning reflects its core concept of money that has been received with the obligation to return it.