銀行 — meaning in English: Bank

ginkō · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for bank

担当

tantou

皇帝

kōtei

修理

shuuri

銀行

ginkō

収入

shūnyū

Skip this question

🎓

Learn Japanese for free

Quizzes, examples, audio & daily challenges. No password needed — just your email.

Start learning →

Already have an account? Log in

neutral very common

Usage

Native speakers commonly use the word 銀行 (ginkō) in various financial transactions, such as when discussing where to deposit money or apply for a loan. It's often heard in conversations at local branches, during business meetings, or in financial planning discussions.

Synonyms & nuances

A close synonym is 金融機関 (kin'yū kikan), meaning 'financial institution,' which is broader and can refer to various types of financial entities including insurance companies. You would use 銀行 (ginkō) specifically when referring to a bank dealing with deposits and loans.

Culture

The term 銀行 (ginkō) combines the kanji 銀 (gin), meaning 'silver,' and 行 (kō), meaning 'to go' or 'line of business.' Historically, banks in Japan began as silver merchants during the Edo period, which explains the connection to the word. This evolution reflects Japan's rich financial history and the establishment of formal banking systems.

FAQ

Q.What is 銀行 in English?

銀行 (ginkō) translates to 'bank' in English, referring to financial institutions where people can deposit money, withdraw cash, and take out loans.

Q.How do I say 'I need to go to the bank' in Japanese?

You would say '銀行に行く必要があります' (ginkō ni iku hitsuyō ga arimasu) to express that you need to go to the bank.

Q.Are there any common mistakes when using 銀行?

A common mistake is confusing 銀行 (ginkō) with other financial terms like 金融 (kin'yū) or 信用金庫 (shinyō kinko), which refer to broader financial concepts or specific types of institutions, respectively.

Learn japanese with Maspeak →

Japanese 2000