原価（げんか、genka）
- cost

The Japanese word 原価 (げんか) primarily translates to "cost price," "prime cost," or "original cost" in English. It refers to the total cost of producing a product or providing a service. This includes all direct costs, such as materials and labor. It's a fundamental concept in accounting and business, representing the expenses directly tied to the creation of goods or services. The term is crucial for determining profitability and pricing strategies. 原価 is a core figure for calculating profit margins. It's the base value that needs to be considered before adding markup.

⚫︎製品の原価を計算する。 Translation: Calculate the cost price of the product. ⚫︎原価が高騰し、利益が減少した。 Translation: The cost price increased, and profits decreased. ⚫︎原価を下げるために、新しい材料を探している。 Translation: We are looking for new materials to lower the cost price.

You use 原価 in business contexts, particularly when discussing financial matters, production costs, and pricing. It's essential when analyzing the profitability of a business, making decisions about product pricing, and controlling costs. You would use it when talking about the expenses involved in creating a good or service, and it's frequently used in discussions about business performance. It is used in reports, accounting, and business meetings.

原価 is typically written in kanji as 原価. The reading is げんか in hiragana. There is no variation in the okurigana, as it is a compound word. Katakana is not used for this word.

⚫︎ コスト (kosuto) - "cost" (borrowed from English, more general) ⚫︎ 仕入れ値 (しいれね) - "purchase price" (specifically for goods bought for resale) ⚫︎ 製造原価 (せいぞうげんか) - "manufacturing cost" (specifically for goods made) ⚫︎ 直接原価 (ちょくせつげんか) - "direct cost"

⚫︎ 売上 (うりあげ) - "sales" or "revenue" ⚫︎ 販売価格 (はんばいかかく) - "selling price" ⚫︎ 利益 (りえき) - "profit"

この商品の原価は1000円です。 ・Translation: The cost price of this product is 1000 yen. ・Explanation: This sentence provides a specific value for the cost price.

人件費と材料費が原価の大半を占めています。 ・Translation: Labor costs and material costs make up the majority of the cost price. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the composition of the cost price, highlighting its components.

The word 原価 is a compound word. 原 (げん) means "original" or "source", and 価 (か) means "value" or "price". Combined, the two kanji convey the idea of the "original price" or the "initial cost" of something.