Translation guide
How to express the idea of generating income or profit in Japanese, from general earning to specific ventures.
To describe the act of earning money in a broad sense, often as a livelihood or side activity.
The most common and direct translation for 'money-making', often with a nuance of actively seeking profit. Can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context.
彼は金儲けが上手だ。
He is good at making money.
金儲けの方法を教えてください。
Please tell me how to make money.
A more formal and neutral way to say 'earn income'. Suitable for official or business contexts.
副業で収入を得ています。
I earn income from a side job.
Literally 'to earn money'. A very common and natural phrase, slightly more casual than 収入を得る.
アルバイトでお金を稼いでいる。
I'm making money with a part-time job.
Referring to a specific activity, project, or business that generates profit.
An intransitive verb meaning 'to be profitable' or 'to make money'. Used to describe a business or activity that yields profit.
このビジネスは儲かる。
This business is profitable.
儲かる仕事を探している。
I'm looking for a money-making job.
A 'money-making scheme' or 'profitable deal'. Often implies a tempting but possibly risky opportunity.
彼は儲け話に飛びついた。
He jumped at the money-making opportunity.
A formal, technical term for 'profitability'. Used in business reports or economic analysis.
To express the idea of earning enough money to support oneself or one's family.
A standard phrase meaning 'to make a living'. Emphasizes sustaining one's livelihood.
彼は絵を描いて生計を立てている。
He makes a living by painting.
Literally 'to keep eating', meaning to earn enough to get by. A more colloquial and humble expression.
今の給料でやっと食べていける。
I can barely make a living on my current salary.
Describing ways to make money quickly or with little effort, often with a negative connotation.
To make money easily. Often used in a cautionary or critical context.
楽に儲けようとするな。
Don't try to make easy money.
Literally 'bubble money', meaning easy money that comes and goes quickly. Has a strong negative nuance of ill-gotten or fleeting gains.
あぶく銭はすぐに消えた。
The easy money disappeared quickly.
金儲け (かねもうけ) often implies a focus on profit-making as an activity, sometimes with a slightly negative or greedy nuance. お金を稼ぐ (おかねをかせぐ) is a more neutral and straightforward way to say 'earn money'. In casual conversation, お金を稼ぐ is very common.
The English compound 'money-making' does not have a single direct adjective equivalent in Japanese. Instead, use verbs like 儲かる (もうかる) or phrases like 金儲けの (かねもうけの) to modify nouns.
The profitability of this project is high.