Meaning and Usage
"会計" (かいけい) primarily means "accounting" or "finance," but it is also commonly used to mean "bill" or "payment" in everyday situations like restaurants or shops.
Common Contexts
- Payment at stores or restaurants: When you want to ask for the bill, you say "会計をお願いします" (Please bring the bill).
- Accounting and finance: Refers to managing financial records, bookkeeping, or financial departments in companies.
Collocations and Patterns
- 会計をする: to do the accounting or to pay the bill depending on context.
- 会計担当: person in charge of accounting.
- 会計報告書: financial report.
Register and Politeness
"会計" is a neutral term used in both formal and informal contexts. When requesting the bill, adding "お願いします" makes it polite.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "会計" with "勘定" (かんじょう), which also means "bill" or "payment." "会計" is more formal and often used in business or official contexts, while "勘定" is more casual.