頭金（あたまきん、atamakin）
- down payment

The Japanese word 頭金 (あたまきん) refers to the down payment or initial deposit made when purchasing something, typically a high-value item like a house, car, or other significant assets. It represents a portion of the total cost that is paid upfront, with the remaining balance usually covered through installments, such as a loan. 頭金 reduces the amount of the loan needed and can often lead to lower interest payments over time. It signifies a commitment to the purchase and can influence the terms of the agreement.

⚫︎ 家を買うために、頭金を貯めなければなりません。 Translation: I need to save up for the down payment to buy a house. ⚫︎ 彼は新しい車のために、十分な頭金を用意しました。 Translation: He prepared a sufficient down payment for the new car. ⚫︎ 頭金の額によって、住宅ローンの金利が変わります。 Translation: The interest rate on a mortgage changes depending on the amount of the down payment.

You would use 頭金 in conversations related to financial transactions involving purchases where an upfront payment is made. This includes discussing real estate, vehicles, and other expensive items. It is often used when discussing the financial aspects of a purchase, such as saving up for a down payment, negotiating the amount, or comparing different payment options.

頭金 is written using the kanji 頭 (あたま - head) and 金 (きん - money/gold). The reading is usually given as あたまきん in hiragana. There are no significant variations in the okurigana or other ways of writing the word, as it is standard.

There aren't many direct synonyms for 頭金 in Japanese, but words or phrases that relate to initial payments or deposits could be considered similar: ⚫︎ 手付金 (てつけきん): Deposit or earnest money (used particularly in real estate) ⚫︎ 前金 (まえきん): Advance payment

⚫︎ There is no direct antonym. However, when considering the entire process, the remaining amount to pay or the loan itself could be seen as opposites in the context of the initial payment.

マンションの購入には、物件価格の20％の《頭金が必要でした。》 ・Translation: A 20% down payment on the property price was required to purchase the apartment. ・Explanation: This sentence shows how 頭金 is used in the context of buying an apartment, specifying the required amount as a percentage of the total cost.

中古車を買う際、頭金を少なくしたので、月々の支払いは高くなりました。》 ・Translation: Because I made a smaller down payment when buying the used car, the monthly payments became higher. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the effect of a smaller 頭金 on monthly payments.

The word 頭金 is a compound word. 頭 (あたま) literally means "head" or "beginning," referring to the start of the payment process. 金 (きん) means "money" or "gold." The combination signifies the "head money" or the initial portion of the total payment made upfront.