Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Price" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "price", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
値下がり
ねさがり (nesagari)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
値上
ねあげ (neage)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "price" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 値下がり and 値上.
In Japanese, 値下がり (ねさがり (nesagari)) is typically associated with "price drop, fall in price" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents The opposite of 値上がり. Refers to a decrease in price. Can be a noun.
On the other hand, 値上 (ねあげ (neage)) maps to "price rise; price hike" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to the act of raising prices. Often used with する as a verb. A literal translation of "price" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "値下がり"
スーパーで野菜が値下がりしていたので、たくさん買った。
Vegetables were cheaper at the supermarket, so I bought a lot.
Bilingual Context for "値上"
原材料の高騰により、商品の値上げを決定しました。
Due to rising raw material costs, we decided to hike the prices of our products.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "スーパーで野菜が ＿＿＿ していたので、たくさん買った。" (Meaning: "Vegetables were cheaper at the supermarket, so I bought a lot.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "値下がり" fits here because it means "price drop, fall in price" in the context of: "Vegetables were cheaper at the supermarket, so I bought a lot.". "値上" represents "price rise; price hike".