How To Say, "Rich" and "Poor" In Japanese
The word for rich in Japanese is お金持ち (okanemochi), literally "money holder". The word for poor is 貧乏 (binbō). Here's how to use both, plus a few alternatives for more formal or more blunt situations.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| お金持ち | okanemochi | rich, a rich person |
| 貧乏 | binbō | poor, broke |
| 金持ち | kanemochi | rich (blunter) |
| 裕福 | yūfuku | wealthy, well-off (formal) |
| 貧しい | mazushii | poor (formal, serious) |
How to say rich in Japanese
Rich, or a rich person. It breaks down as お (polite prefix) + 金 kane (money) + 持ち mochi (holder). So a rich person is literally a "money holder".
The same word without the polite お. It sounds more direct, sometimes a little envious or critical.
Wealthy or well-off. A polite, neutral word you'll see in news and hear in careful conversation.
Remember 金 with a picture
The Dr. Moku app turns Japanese characters into pictures you won't forget.
How to say poor in Japanese
Poor, or broke. The everyday word, often used jokingly about yourself. Say it "bin-boh" with a long o at the end.
Poor, in a serious sense. Used for poverty, countries and hardship, never for joking about being broke.
A memory trick for 金
金 (kane) means gold, metal or money, and it's one of the first kanji Japanese children learn. It looks like a treasure chest with gold shining inside, which is exactly what it means.
Fun fact: nervously jiggling your leg is called 貧乏ゆすり (binbō yusuri) in Japanese, literally "poor person's shaking".
Remember Japanese with memory tricks, not repetition.
The Dr. Moku app turns every hiragana and katakana character into a picture you won't forget.