Meaning and Usage
"経費" (けいひ) refers to expenses or costs, especially in a business or organizational context. It often relates to money spent for work-related activities such as travel, supplies, or operational costs.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "経費" used when discussing company budgets, reimbursements, or cost-saving measures. It is a formal term often used in business settings.
Collocations and Patterns
- 経費で (けいひで): "at the expense of" or "paid by" – used when something is covered by company costs.
- 経費を申請する: to apply for expense reimbursement.
- 経費を節約する: to reduce or save expenses.
- 経費精算: expense settlement or reimbursement process.
Usage Notes
When using "経費," speakers imply official or business-related spending rather than personal expenses. A common learner mistake is confusing "経費" with general "費用" (cost/fee), which can be broader and include personal costs. "経費" is more specific to business or organizational expenses.
Politeness and Register
"経費" is a neutral to formal term suitable for business conversations, reports, and official documents. It is not used in casual talk about personal spending.