礼金

See also: 禮金

Chinese

For pronunciation and definitions of 礼金 – see 禮金 (“betrothal money for the bride's family during engagement; gift of money; monetary gift; etc.”). (This term is the simplified form of 禮金).

Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Japanese

Kanji in this term
礼	金
れい Grade: 3	きん Grade: 1
kan'on

Alternative spelling
禮金 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Compound of 礼 (rei, “gratitude”) +‎ 金 (kin, “money”). First cited in 1678.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) れーきん [rèékíń] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ɾe̞ːkʲĩɴ]

Noun

礼(れい)金(きん) • (reikin) 

1. [date uncertain] (real estate) key money: an amount of money paid to a landlord to start a lease agreement, usually non-refundable and separate from the deposit, and often a set multiple of the monthly rent amount

   Coordinate term: 敷金 (shikikin, “deposit, security to lease or rent a property”)

2. [from 1678] an amount of money given as thanks for something

   Synonyms: 謝礼金 (shareikin), 謝金 (shakin)

Usage notes

The custom of a non-refundable gift of reikin or key money to start a lease is more common in eastern Japan than in western Japan. See Key_money#Japan for more details.