分割払い（ぶんかつばらい、bunkatsubarai）
- installment payment

分割払い means "installment payment" or "payment in installments." It refers to the practice of paying for a purchase or service over a specific period, typically in regular, smaller payments rather than a single lump sum. This allows consumers to afford larger purchases by spreading the cost over time. The "分割払い" arrangement usually involves an agreement with a credit card company, a bank, or a retailer. There may be interest charges associated with 分割払い, depending on the terms of the agreement.

⚫︎ 分割払いで新しいパソコンを買いました。 Translation: I bought a new computer on installment. ⚫︎ この商品は分割払いに対応していますか？ Translation: Does this product support installment payments? ⚫︎ 分割払いを利用すると、月々の支払いが楽になります。 Translation: Using installment payments makes monthly payments easier.

You can use 分割払い when discussing how a purchase is being paid for. It's used in situations where you're inquiring about or arranging to pay for something in installments. It is common to see this word when shopping for big-ticket items like furniture, appliances, or cars. It's important to understand the terms and conditions, including interest rates and the total amount paid, before agreeing to a 分割払い plan.

分割払い is typically written in kanji and hiragana: 分割払い. There are no variations in the okurigana (the suffix hiragana). The word is always written as 分割払い.

There are no direct synonyms in Japanese, but words related to payment plans could include: ⚫︎ 月賦 (げっぷ) - installment payments (less common, more formal) ⚫︎ クレジット払い (クレジットばらい) - credit card payment (if using a credit card for 分割払い)

⚫︎ 一括払い (いっかつばらい) - lump-sum payment, payment in full.

電化製品を買うときに、分割払いにすると、月々の支払いが楽になります。 ・Translation: When buying electronic appliances, using installment payments makes monthly payments easier. ・Explanation: This sentence explains the benefit of using 分割払い when purchasing electronics: it reduces the monthly financial burden.

クレジットカードで分割払いを選べば、高価な商品も無理なく購入できます。 ・Translation: If you choose installment payments with a credit card, you can purchase expensive items without difficulty. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates how credit cards facilitate 分割払い and make buying expensive goods more manageable.

The word 分割払い is formed from: ⚫︎ 分割 (ぶんかつ) - division, split ⚫︎ 払い (ばらい) - payment Therefore, 分割払い literally means "split payment" or "divided payment".