Meaning and Usage
利息 (りそく) refers specifically to the interest earned or paid on money, typically in banking or loan contexts. It is a formal term used in financial discussions and documents.
Common Contexts
You will often see 利息 used when talking about savings accounts, loans, mortgages, and investments. It indicates the extra money gained or owed beyond the principal amount.
Collocations and Patterns
- 利息がつく: interest is added or earned
- 利息が高い／低い: high/low interest rates
- 利息を払う: to pay interest
- 利息を計算する: to calculate interest
Usage Notes
利息 is a noun and is often paired with verbs like つく (to accrue), 払う (to pay), or 計算する (to calculate). It is important not to confuse 利息 with 利益 (りえき), which means profit or gain in a broader business sense. 利息 is strictly about interest on money.
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This word is formal and commonly used in written and spoken financial contexts. It is not used in casual conversation unless discussing money matters explicitly.