Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "料金" vs "価格"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
料金
りょうきん (ryōkin)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
価格
かかく (kakaku)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 料金 and 価格 are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
料金 (りょうきん (ryōkin)) represents "fee; charge; fare; rate; price" (Level: N3) and typically represents Refers to a fee, charge, fare, or rate paid for services or facilities. Often used as 公共料金 or 利用料金. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'Fee! Charge! "Is there an entry fee to Haruka-san's heart?" ...っ, T-To ask such a silly thing! B-But... the entry fee is your lifelong absolute love! Pay up!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『りょうきん（料金）よ！『ハルカさんの心の入場料金はいくらですか？』って…っ, なに馬鹿なこと言ってるのよ！入場料金はね、『生涯の絶対の愛』よ！分かったら今すぐ前払いしなさい！』.
On the other hand, 価格 (かかく (kakaku)) translates to "price; cost; value (in monetary terms)" (Level: N3) and is used for Refers to the price, value, or cost of products or services. Often used as 価格競争 or 希望小売価格. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'Price! "Haruka-san's hand-holding is priceless!" ...っ! P-Priceless! T-To say such an advanced romantic phrase! B-But since your hand is also of infinite value to me, keep holding it forever!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『かかく（価格）！『ハルカさんと手を繋ぐ価値は、プライスレス（無限大）です！』って…っ！プライスレスだなんて！バカ！…でも、あんたの手の温もりは、私にとっても世界最高の価値なんだからね！』. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "料金"
電気やガス、水道などの公共_______は、毎月の口座振替やクレジットカード決済で自動的に支払うのが最も便利です。
Utility charges such as electricity, gas, and water are most convenient to pay automatically by monthly bank transfer or credit card payment.
Bilingual Sentence for "価格"
原材料費の高騰や円安の長期化に耐えかねて、多くの食品メーカーが商品の小売_______を一斉に引き上げる決断を下しました。
Unable to bear the soaring cost of raw materials and the prolonged depreciation of the yen, many food manufacturers made the decision to raise the retail prices of their products all at once.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "電気やガス、水道などの公共_______は、毎月の口座振替やクレジットカード決済で自動的に支払うのが最も便利です。" (Meaning: "Utility charges such as electricity, gas, and water are most convenient to pay automatically by monthly bank transfer or credit card payment.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "料金" fits here because it represents "fee; charge; fare; rate; price" in the context: "Utility charges such as electricity, gas, and water are most convenient to pay automatically by monthly bank transfer or credit card payment.".