What is the difference between "支払い" and "支払"?

"支払い" means "payment" (N4), whereas "支払" represents "payment" (N3).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "しはらい (shiharai)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

しはらい (shiharai)

N4 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

しはらい (shiharai)

N3 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "しはらい (shiharai)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

支払い (Level: N4): Translates to "payment" and is used when Nouns that refer to the act of paying money for goods or services. Often used in conjunction with する.
支払 (Level: N3): Maps to "payment" and carries the nuance of Refers to the act of paying money for goods, services, or bills. Often used with する as a verb.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "支払い"

この商品の支払いはクレジットカードでできますか？

Can I pay for this product by credit card?

Bilingual Context for "支払"

レストランでの支払いはカードで済ませました。

I completed the payment at the restaurant by card.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "この商品の＿＿＿はクレジットカードでできますか？" (Meaning: "Can I pay for this product by credit card?")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "支払い" is used for "payment" in the context: "Can I pay for this product by credit card?".