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JLPT N2 Economy & Finance Vocabulary (2026)

Complete JLPT N2 Economy & Finance vocabulary with readings and example sentences (114 words).

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This set covers 114 economy and finance words that N2 reading passages draw on heavily, since business news, editorials, and workplace documents are a core source text type at this level. Expect terms for market movement, currency and trade, investment, corporate accounting, and banking to appear together in the same article, often without furigana.

This article is part of our JLPT N2 Complete Vocabulary Guide. Practice all 114 words with the Economy & Finance Vocabulary deck in Onigiri Anki.

Economic Cycles & Market Trends (26)

Vocabulary for describing economic ups and downs, including recession, boom, inflation, and monetary policy, in the news-report register that N2 reading passages use constantly when discussing current events.

demand需要juyou

電気自動車の需要が高まっています。 — Demand for electric cars is rising.

supply供給kyoukyuu

電力の供給が不足しています。 — The power supply is insufficient.

supply and demand需給jukyuu

需給は値段に影響します。 — Supply and demand affect prices.

market市場shijou

市場はそのニュースに反応しました。 — The market reacted to the news.

market rate相場souba

相場は毎日変わります。 — The market rate changes every day.

recession不況fukyou

不況で、たくさんの小さな店が閉まりました。 — Many small shops closed during the recession.

boom好況koukyou

好況のとき、新しいレストランが次々に開きました。 — During the boom, new restaurants opened one after another.

economic recovery景気回復keikikaifuku

お客さんの数から景気回復を感じます。 — We can feel the economic recovery from the number of customers.

inflationインフレinfure

インフレで食べ物の値段が上がっています。 — Inflation is making the price of food rise.

deflationデフレdefure

デフレで、みんな買い物を様子見しています。 — Because of deflation, everyone is waiting to make purchases.

economic slowdown景気後退keikikoutai

今は景気後退の時期です。 — The economy is in a slowdown now.

business conditions景況keikyou

景況はまだ弱いです。 — Business conditions are still weak.

market sentiment景況感keikyoukan

景況感が少し良くなりました。 — Business sentiment has improved a little.

business cycle景気循環keikijunkan

景気循環は経済に影響します。 — The business cycle affects the economy.

market conditions市況shikyou

最近、市況が悪くなっています。 — Market conditions are getting worse these days.

monetary easing金融緩和kinyuukanwa

銀行は追加の金融緩和を発表しました。 — The bank announced additional monetary easing.

monetary tightening金融引き締めkinyuuhikishime

金融引き締めで、融資の伸びが鈍りました。 — Monetary tightening slowed the growth of loans.

slump; stagnation不振fushin

今月は売り上げが不振です。 — Sales have been sluggish this month.

excess; surplus過剰kajou

塩の過剰は、味を悪くします。 — Too much salt can ruin the taste.

expansion拡大kakudai

新しい駅の開通で町が拡大しています。 — The town is expanding because the new station opened.

reduction縮小shukushou

会社はコストの縮小を発表しました。 — The company announced a reduction in costs.

growth成長seichou

赤ちゃんの成長はとても速いです。 — The baby's growth is very fast.

sharp fall急落kyuuraku

発表のあと、株価が急落しました。 — The stock price fell sharply after the announcement.

rise上昇joushou

今月は売り上げが上昇しています。 — Sales are rising this month.

drop下落geraku

物価が下落しました。 — Prices fell.

fluctuation変動hendou

気温の変動が毎日あります。 — There are fluctuations in temperature every day.

Currency & Foreign Exchange (7)

Terms for currency values and international payments, built around the easily-confused 円高/円安 pair that describes whether the yen is strong or weak against other currencies.

exchange rate為替kawase

昨日、為替が変わりました。 — The exchange rate changed yesterday.

currency通貨tsuuka

円は日本の通貨です。 — The yen is the currency of Japan.

foreign currency外貨gaika

空港で外貨に両替しました。 — I exchanged my money for foreign currency at the airport.

strong yen円高endaka

円高で輸入品が安くなりました。 — Because the yen is strong, imports became cheaper.

weak yen円安enyasu

円安で海外旅行が高くなりました。 — Because the yen is weak, overseas travel has become more expensive.

conversion換算kansan

料金は円に換算されます。 — The fee is converted into yen.

balance of payments国際収支kokusaishuushi

日本の国際収支は去年よくなりました。 — Japan's balance of payments improved last year.

Stocks, Securities & Investment (21)

Words for stock trading, shareholding, and investment returns, ranging from basic 株 (stock) to compound terms like 含み益/含み損 (unrealized gain/loss) that combine familiar kanji into finance-specific meanings.

stock price株価kabuka

今週は株価が上がりました。 — Stock prices rose this week.

securities証券shouken

私は銀行を通して証券を買いました。 — I bought securities through the bank.

investment出資shusshi

彼は新しい会社に出資しました。 — He made an investment in a new company.

market value市場価値shijoukachi

この家の市場価値は高いです。 — The market value of this house is high.

futures先物sakimono

金の先物を買いました。 — I bought gold futures.

trading売買baibai

私たちはインターネットで売買をします。 — We buy and sell on the internet.

investment funds出資金shusshikin

会社は出資金を有効に使いました。 — The company used the investment funds effectively.

speculation投機touki

彼は投機ばかりしています。 — He is always speculating.

unrealized gain含み益fukumieki

私は含み益のある株を持っています。 — I am holding a stock with an unrealized gain.

unrealized loss含み損fukumizon

その株には含み損があります。 — I am holding a stock with an unrealized loss.

undervalued割安wariyasu

この中古車は割安です。 — This used car is undervalued.

overpriced割高waridaka

あのかばんは割高です。 — That bag is overpriced.

market value (current price)時価jika

この家の時価が上がりました。 — The market value of this house has risen.

market capitalization時価総額jikasougaku

その会社の時価総額は大きく上がりました。 — The company's market capitalization rose sharply.

dividend配当金haitoukin

持っている株から配当金を受け取りました。 — I received a dividend from the shares I own.

shareholders' meeting株主総会kabunushisoukai

株主総会は六月に開かれました。 — The shareholders' meeting was held in June.

investor投資家toushika

その投資家は、新しい事業を支援することにしました。 — The investor decided to support the new project.

sale; disposal売却baikyaku

私たちは、先月その古い家を売却しました。 — We sold the old house last month.

securities company証券会社shoukengaisha

私は昨日、証券会社に口座を申し込みました。 — I applied to open an account at a securities company yesterday.

stock; share株kabu

私はその会社の株を買いました。 — I bought stock in that company.

yield; rate of return利回りrimawari

この投資は利回りが高いです。 — This investment has a high yield.

Corporate Finance & Public Budget (22)

Vocabulary for how companies and governments track money over time, covering profit, loss, budgets, bonds, and debt, much of it built on the 赤字/黒字 (deficit/surplus) opposition that recurs across several compounds.

profit利益rieki

会社の利益が増加しました。 — The company's profit increased.

damage / loss損害songai

台風で大きな損害を受けました。 — We suffered great damage from the typhoon.

profit; earnings (revenue)収益shuueki

その会社の収益は今年増えました。 — The company's profits increased this year.

loss損失sonshitsu

彼は株で大きな損失を出しました。 — He suffered a big loss in the stock market.

public finance財政zaisei

市は財政を立て直そうとしています。 — The city is trying to improve its public finances.

deficit budget赤字財政akajizaisei

赤字財政では、公共サービスをよくするのが難しいです。 — With a deficit budget, it is difficult to improve public services.

profit margin利益率riekiritsu

うちの利益率は低いです。 — Our profit margin is low.

profitability採算saisan

この事業は採算が合いません。 — This project does not have enough profitability.

deficit management赤字経営akajikeiei

その会社は赤字経営に陥りました。 — The company was put into deficit management.

return to profitability黒字化kurojika

その店はついに黒字化しました。 — The store finally returned to profitability.

funding source財源zaigen

新しい財源が必要です。 — We need a new funding source.

revenue歳入sainyuu

今年は歳入が増えました。 — Tax revenue increased this year.

expenditure歳出saishutsu

市は歳出を削減しました。 — The city cut its expenditure.

government bond国債kokusai

国債の利子は低いです。 — The interest on government bonds is low.

public bond公債kousai

市は公債を発行しました。 — The city issued a public bond.

bond; claim債権saiken

私はその会社の債権を買いました。 — I bought that company's bond.

debt債務saimu

その会社には多くの債務があります。 — The company has a lot of debt.

debt ratio負債比率fusaihiritsu

その会社の負債比率は高いです。 — The company's debt ratio is high.

working capital運転資金untenshikin

新しい計画を始めるには、運転資金が必要です。 — We need working capital to start the new plan.

internal reserves内部留保naiburyuuho

会社は内部留保を使って、赤字を補いました。 — The company used its internal reserves to cover the deficit.

financing; cash flow management資金繰りshikinguri

今月は資金繰りに苦しんでいます。 — We are struggling with cash flow this month.

expense; outlay出費shuppi

今月の出費は思ったより多かったです。 — This month's expenses were higher than I expected.

Banking, Credit & Insurance (16)

Terms for banking, lending, and insurance transactions, covering money moving between people and institutions, from 振込 (bank transfer) to 保険証券 (insurance policy).

interest rate金利kinri

このローンの金利は低いです。 — The interest rate on this loan is low.

interest利子rishi

その貯金にはあまり利子がつきません。 — The savings account has little interest.

finance金融kinyuu

彼は金融関係の仕事をしたいです。 — He wants to work in finance.

remittance送金soukin

家族に送金しました。 — I transferred money to my family.

bank transfer振込furikomi

料金は振込で支払いました。 — I paid the fee by bank transfer.

loaning融通yuuzuu

銀行は短い期間だけお金を融通してくれました。 — The bank loaned us money for a short time.

certificate証明書shoumeisho

市役所で証明書が必要です。 — I need a certificate from the city office.

collateral担保tanpo

銀行はその融資に担保を求めました。 — The bank asked for collateral for the loan.

insurance保険hoken

私は健康保険に入りました。 — I joined the health insurance program.

holding保有hoyuu

うちの会社は海外の株を保有しています。 — Our company holds overseas stocks.

asset management運用unyou

その資金は専門家が運用しています。 — A professional is managing the funds.

insurance premium保険料hokenryou

保険料が思ったより高かったです。 — The insurance premium was more expensive than I expected.

insurance policy保険証券hokenshouken

保険証券は大切に保管してください。 — Please keep your insurance policy in a safe place.

appraisal鑑定kantei

専門家がその絵を鑑定しました。 — The expert appraised the painting.

bill of exchange手形tegata

その手形は月末に支払われます。 — That bill of exchange will be paid at the end of the month.

loan recipient; borrower融資先yuushisaki

その融資先は、銀行にもっと時間を求めました。 — The borrower asked the bank for more time.

Trade, Commerce & Business Operations (22)

Words for how goods and businesses physically move, covering wholesale, retail, import/export, tariffs, and logistics, the operational side of the economy that complements the more abstract finance vocabulary in the other groups.

wholesale卸売oroshiuri

この店は商品を卸売価格で販売しています。 — This store sells products at wholesale prices.

retail小売kouri

今年は小売の売り上げが増えました。 — Retail sales increased this year.

storefront店頭tentou

新しい商品が店頭に並んでいます。 — The new products are on display in the storefront.

financial world財界zaikai

この政策に財界が注目しています。 — The financial world is paying attention to this policy.

enterprise企業kigyou

その企業は新しい支店を開く予定です。 — The company plans to open a new branch.

corporation法人houjin

この法人は海外にも事業を広げています。 — This corporation is expanding overseas.

bankruptcy倒産tousan

その会社は去年倒産しました。 — The company went bankrupt last year.

bankruptcy (personal insolvency)破産hasan

彼は仕事を失って破産しました。 — He went bankrupt after losing his job.

resources資源shigen

資源は大切に使う必要があります。 — We need to use resources carefully.

handling取扱toriatsukai

商品の取扱説明書をよく読んでください。 — Please read the product handling instructions carefully.

distribution物流butsuryuu

物流が滞っています。 — The distribution of goods is delayed.

tariff関税kanzei

関税で輸入品が高くなりました。 — The tariff made imported goods more expensive.

sales売り上げ高uriagedaka

今月の売り上げ高は予想よりよかったです。 — This month's sales were better than expected.

small lot小口koguchi

この商品は小口で売ってください。 — Please sell this product in small quantities.

carpooling; joint ride相乗りainori

私たちはイベントまで相乗りで行きました。 — We rode together to the event.

intermediation仲介chuukai

仲介の人が部屋探しを手伝ってくれました。 — The mediator helped me look for a room.

mediation; agency媒介baikai

その会社は地元の店の媒介をしました。 — The company mediated for a local shop.

customs clearance通関tsuukan

荷物はもう通関しました。 — The goods have already cleared customs.

travel abroad渡航tokou

来年、渡航する予定です。 — I am planning to travel abroad next year.

trade value貿易額bouekigaku

去年、日本の貿易額は増えました。 — Last year, Japan's trade volume increased.

raw material原料genryou

この機械は原料を効率よく加工できます。 — This machine can efficiently process raw materials.

import and export輸出入yushutsunyuu

私たちの会社は、輸出入の両方を行っています。 — Our company handles both imports and exports.

赤字 vs 黒字: the ledger-color metaphor

Three words in this set build on the same accounting metaphor: 赤字財政 (deficit budget), 赤字経営 (deficit management), and 黒字化 (turning a profit) use 赤字 ("red figures") and 黒字 ("black figures") the same way English says a company is "in the red" or "in the black" — the color comes from how ledgers were traditionally marked. Once you recognize 赤字 as loss/deficit and 黒字 as profit/surplus, you can decode compounds you have never seen, since both attach freely to nouns like 経営 (management) or 財政 (public finance). A related pair worth separating is 損失 (loss) and 損害 (damage/loss): 損失 is almost always a financial loss on a transaction or investment, while 損害 more often implies harm caused to someone else, which is why it pairs naturally with 保険 (insurance) rather than with 利益 (profit).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 円高 and 円安?

円高 (endaka) means the yen is strong: it takes fewer yen to buy one unit of foreign currency, for example one dollar costing 100 yen instead of 150. 円安 (enyasu) means the yen is weak, so it takes more yen to buy the same foreign currency. This trips up learners because 高い normally means "expensive," but here 高 describes the yen's value rising relative to other currencies, not the price of goods going up.

How are 損失, 損害, and 赤字 different, and when is each used?

損失 (sonshitsu) is a financial loss, typically on an investment or business transaction, and pairs with 利益 (profit) as its opposite, as in 含み損 (unrealized loss). 損害 (songai) is damage or harm, often done to a third party, and shows up in insurance and liability contexts where 保険 pays out for 損害. 赤字 describes a running deficit over a period, as in 赤字財政 (deficit budget) or 赤字経営 (deficit management), the opposite of being 黒字 (in the black).

What is the difference between 債権 and 債務?

債権 (saiken) is a claim or receivable, the right to be repaid, held by a creditor. 債務 (saimu) is the debt itself, the obligation to pay, held by a debtor. They are two sides of the same loan: when a company issues 国債 or 公債 (government or public bonds), the buyer holds 債権 while the issuer carries 債務, and 負債比率 (debt ratio) measures how much 債務 a company carries relative to its assets.

Practice All 114 Economy & Finance Vocabulary Words

Import the Economy & Finance Vocabulary deck into Onigiri Anki and master this category with spaced repetition.