Yuka通貨 vs 硬貨 — these two words look similar and both relate to money, but they mean very different things! Let's sort out 通貨 (currency) and 硬貨 (coin) once and for all.
ReiKanji mix-ups like this are really common in Japanese. Once you see the logic in each kanji, you'll never confuse them again.
At a Glance
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Kanji logic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 通貨 | つうか | Currency (e.g. yen, dollar) | 通 (circulate) + 貨 (goods/money) = money that circulates |
| 硬貨 | こうか | Coin (metal currency) | 硬 (hard/metal) + 貨 (goods/money) = hard money = coin |
通貨 (つうか) — Currency
通貨 means currency — the official money system of a country. It covers both coins and banknotes as a system, and is used in economic and financial contexts.
- 日本の通貨は円だ。— Japan's currency is the yen.
- 外国通貨 — foreign currency
- 通貨価値 — currency value
- 通貨危機 — currency crisis
- 仮想通貨 — cryptocurrency (virtual currency)
Yuka仮想通貨への投資が増えている。
Investment in cryptocurrency is increasing.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| この国の通貨は何ですか？ | What is the currency of this country? |
| 外国通貨を両替したい。 | I want to exchange foreign currency. |
| 通貨の価値が下がった。 | The currency's value fell. |
硬貨 (こうか) — Coin
硬貨 means a coin — physical metal currency. The kanji 硬 (hard) makes the meaning clear: hard money = metal coin. The counterpart is 紙幣 (しへい) — paper money / banknote.
- 1円硬貨 — 1-yen coin
- 500円硬貨 — 500-yen coin
- 硬貨を集める — to collect coins
- 硬貨が足りない — I don't have enough coins
ReiIn Japan, coins (硬貨) come in 6 denominations: 1円、5円、10円、50円、100円、500円. Paper money (紙幣) comes in 1,000円、5,000円、10,000円 (and 2,000円, rarely seen).
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 500円硬貨を両替してください。 | Please change this 500-yen coin. |
| 財布に硬貨がたくさん入っている。 | My wallet is full of coins. |
| 硬貨は重いから持ちたくない。 | I don't want to carry coins because they're heavy. |
Full Comparison
| 通貨 (つうか) | 硬貨 (こうか) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Currency system | Coin (physical metal) |
| Scope | All money of a country | Only metal coins |
| Context | Economics, finance | Everyday payments, physical money |
| Opposite | — | 紙幣 (paper money) |
| Example | 仮想通貨、外国通貨 | 500円硬貨、1円硬貨 |
Quick Quiz
Choose 通貨 or 硬貨:
- ビットコインは___の一種だ。→ 通貨 (仮想通貨)
- 財布の中に___が20枚ある。→ 硬貨
- ドルはアメリカの___だ。→ 通貨
- 10円___を集めている。→ 硬貨
More Japanese Lessons
📖 Want to take your Japanese further? Practice speaking with a professional Japanese tutor on italki — affordable 1-on-1 online lessons at your own pace.