滞納（たいのう、tainou）
- non-payment

The Japanese word 滞納 (たいのう, tainou) means "delinquency," "arrears," "default," or "non-payment." It refers to the failure to pay something, usually money, by the agreed-upon deadline. This can apply to various types of payments, such as taxes, rent, utilities, loans, or subscriptions. The term implies that a payment is overdue. It encompasses a range of scenarios where an obligation to pay is not met on time.

⚫︎税金の滞納 Translation: Tax delinquency ⚫︎家賃の滞納 Translation: Rent arrears ⚫︎ローンの滞納 Translation: Loan default

This word is used in formal and informal contexts. ⚫︎It's common in official notices, legal documents, and news reports regarding financial matters. ⚫︎You can also use it in everyday conversation when discussing unpaid bills or debts, although more casual alternatives may sometimes be preferred depending on the level of formality. ⚫︎ Be mindful of the context and the people you are speaking to, especially if you are directly addressing someone about their unpaid dues.

⚫︎The word 滞納 is most commonly written using the kanji 滞納. ⚫︎The reading is たいのう (tainou) in hiragana. ⚫︎There is no variation in okurigana (the suffix hiragana).

⚫︎未払い (みはらい, miharai) - Unpaid ⚫︎延滞 (えんたい, entai) - Delay, overdue ⚫︎遅延 (ちえん, chien) - Delay, postponement ⚫︎踏み倒し (ふみ倒し, fumitaoshi) - Default (informal, strong implication of not intending to pay)

⚫︎支払い (しはらい, shiharai) - Payment ⚫︎納付 (のうふ, noufu) - Payment, contribution ⚫︎完済 (かんさい, kansai) - Full payment, complete repayment

彼は税金を長期間滞納していたため、政府から警告を受けました。 ・Translation: He received a warning from the government because he was in tax delinquency for a long time. ・Explanation: The sentence illustrates a situation where a person has not paid their taxes, resulting in a formal warning.

電気料金の滞納が続くと、電気が止められる可能性があります。 ・Translation: If you continue to be delinquent with your electricity bill, your electricity may be cut off. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the consequences of failing to pay an electricity bill, demonstrating the real-world implications of 滞納.

The word 滞納 is composed of two kanji: 滞 (tai), meaning "stagnant," "delayed," or "held up," and 納 (nou), meaning "payment," "delivery," or "to pay." The combined meaning suggests a payment that is "held up" or "delayed," hence the meaning of "delinquency" or "arrears."