Meaning and Usage
"予算" (よさん) primarily means "budget" or "estimate" and is commonly used in contexts involving financial planning or cost estimation. It refers to the amount of money allocated or planned for a particular purpose, such as a project, event, or household expenses.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "予算" in business settings when discussing company budgets, in personal contexts like planning trips or home renovations, and in government or organizational financial planning.
Collocations and Patterns
- 予算を立てる: to make or set a budget
- 予算が足りない: budget is insufficient
- 予算内で: within the budget
- 予算オーバー: over budget
These collocations help express planning, limitations, and adjustments related to financial resources.
Register and Nuance
"予算" is a neutral and formal term suitable for both spoken and written Japanese. It is appropriate in business, academic, and everyday conversations involving money management.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "予算" with "費用" (cost/expense). Remember, "予算" is the planned or allocated amount, while "費用" refers to the actual cost incurred. Using "予算" when you mean actual expenses can cause misunderstandings.