Meaning and Usage
"運賃" (うんちん) refers to the cost charged for transportation services, including passenger fares and freight charges. It is a formal term commonly used in contexts involving public transportation, shipping, and logistics.
Common Contexts
You will often see "運賃" used when discussing ticket prices for trains, buses, or airplanes, as well as shipping fees for cargo. It is a key word in travel and business settings.
Collocations and Patterns
- 運賃が高い / 安い: fare is expensive / cheap
- 運賃を支払う: to pay the fare
- 運賃表: fare chart
- 運賃割引: fare discount
These collocations help express cost-related nuances clearly.
Register and Nuance
"運賃" is a neutral to formal term, suitable for written and spoken Japanese in business, official announcements, and customer service. It is less casual than "料金" (りょうきん) when referring specifically to transportation fees.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "運賃" with "料金," which is a more general term for fees or charges. Remember, "運賃" specifically relates to transportation fares, so use it when talking about travel or shipping costs.