Japanese has two words for “discount” that English speakers often assume are the same: 割引 (waribiki) and 値引き (nebiki). Both mean a reduction in price — but the way the discount is calculated is completely different. One is a percentage-based discount; the other is a fixed-amount reduction in yen. Knowing the difference will help you read price tags, understand shop signs, and negotiate prices naturally in Japanese.
YukaQuick question, Rei — when should I use 割引 versus 値引き?
ReiAh, a classic mix-up! They’re related but definitely not interchangeable. I’ll explain with examples and it’ll make perfect sense.
At a Glance: 割引 vs. 値引き
| Feature | 割引 (waribiki) | 値引き (nebiki) |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Percentage-based discount (% off) | Fixed-amount price reduction (¥ off) |
| Reading | わりびき | ねびき |
| How expressed | 〇〇%割引 or 〇割引 (e.g., 20%割引) | 〇〇円値引き (e.g., 500円値引き) |
| Word type | Noun / する-verb | Noun / する-verb |
| Common in | Retail, coupons, membership cards, sales | Negotiation, market stalls, supermarkets, real estate |
| JLPT level | N3 | N3 |
割引 (わりびき) — Percentage-Based Discount
割引 describes a discount calculated as a percentage off the original price. The kanji 割 means “proportion” or “a tenth part,” and 引 means “to pull / reduce.” Together they literally suggest “pulling away a proportion.” When you see 20%割引 or 3割引, that means 20% off or 30% off respectively.
Formation note: 〇〇%割引 uses the percentage sign + 割引. Alternatively, Japanese uses 〇割引 where 1割 (ichi-wari) = 10%. So 2割引 = 20% off, 3割引 = 30% off, etc.
Example 1 — store sale sign:
全品20%割引のセールをしています。
Zenpin nijuu paasento waribiki no seeru wo shite imasu.
All items are on sale at 20% off.
Example 2 — membership discount:
会員カードを見せると10%割引になります。
Kaiin kaado wo miseru to juu paasento waribiki ni narimasu.
If you show your membership card, you get a 10% discount.
Example 3 — using 〇割 notation:
3割引で買えたのでとてもお得だった。
San-wari-biki de kaeta no de totemo otoku datta.
I was able to buy it at 30% off, so it was a great deal.
YukaOh interesting! So 割引 can mean that too? I only knew the basic meaning.
ReiYes! 割引 is more versatile than most learners realize. Native speakers use it in all sorts of situations — not just the obvious ones.
値引き (ねびき) — Fixed-Amount Price Reduction
値引き describes a reduction of a specific yen amount from the original price. The kanji 値 means “price/value” and 引き means “reduction/deduction.” So 値引き literally means “reducing the price.” Unlike 割引, the amount is not a percentage — it is a fixed number: 100円値引き means 100 yen off, 500円値引き means 500 yen off.
値引き is also the word to use when asking a seller to lower the price in a negotiation context — similar to “Can you give me a discount?” in English.
Example 1 — supermarket price reduction sticker:
お弁当が100円値引きになっていた。
Obentou ga hyaku-en nebiki ni natte ita.
The bento box was reduced by 100 yen.
Example 2 — negotiating at a market:
もう少し値引きしてもらえますか？
Mou sukoshi nebiki shite moraemasu ka?
Could you reduce the price a little more?
Example 3 — real estate / large purchases:
交渉して50万円値引きしてもらった。
Koushou shite go-juu-man-en nebiki shite moratta.
I negotiated and got 500,000 yen off the price.
YukaWhat about 値引き? Is it used as often as 割引 in daily conversation?
Rei値引き is super common too! The two words actually complement each other really well once you understand both.
The Core Difference: Percentage vs. Fixed Amount
The distinction comes down to how the discount is measured:
- 割引 = “X% off.” The amount saved depends on the original price.
- 値引き = “X yen off.” The amount is fixed regardless of original price.
In practice, 割引 appears most often on store signs, coupons, and membership discounts. 値引き appears on price-reduction stickers at supermarkets, in negotiations, or when someone asks a seller to lower the price.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Situation | 割引 | 値引き |
|---|---|---|
| “30% off sale” sign in a clothing store | ✓ 30%割引 / 3割引 | ✗ |
| Supermarket reduces bento price by ¥50 near closing time | ✗ | ✓ 50円値引き |
| Asking seller to lower price at a flea market | ✗ | ✓ 値引きしてください |
| Coupon for 15% off your next purchase | ✓ 15%割引クーポン | ✗ |
| Negotiating ¥10,000 off an apartment rent | ✗ | ✓ 1万円値引き |
| Student discount (10% off) | ✓ 学生割引 10% | ✗ |
Decision Flowchart
You want to describe a discount — which word?
|
v
How is the discount calculated?
|
+---------+---------+
| |
PERCENTAGE FIXED AMOUNT
(10% off, (100 yen off,
30% off, etc.) 500 yen off, etc.)
| |
v v
割引 値引き
(waribiki — (nebiki —
% discount) ¥ reduction)Quick Quiz — Test Yourself!
YukaAlright, I think I understand both now. Time for a quiz to check!
ReiThat’s the spirit! Testing yourself is one of the best study techniques. Ready?
Choose 割引 or 値引き for each blank.
Q1. There is a 20% off sale at the bookstore today.
今日は本屋で20%＿＿＿のセールをしている。
Kyou wa hon’ya de nijuu paasento ___ no seeru wo shite iru.
Answer: 割引 (waribiki)
Reason: Percentage-based discount (20% off) = 割引.
Q2. The price of sashimi was reduced by 200 yen near closing time.
閉店近くに刺身が200円＿＿＿されていた。
Heiten chikaku ni sashimi ga nihyaku-en ___ sarete ita.
Answer: 値引き (nebiki)
Reason: Fixed yen amount reduction (200 yen off) = 値引き.
Q3. Could you lower the price a bit?
少し＿＿＿してもらえますか？
Sukoshi ___ shite moraemasu ka?
Answer: 値引き (nebiki)
Reason: Asking for a price reduction in negotiation = 値引き.
Q4. Members get a 15% discount at this gym.
このジムでは会員は15%＿＿＿が受けられる。
Kono jimu de wa kaiin wa juugo paasento ___ ga ukerareru.
Answer: 割引 (waribiki)
Reason: Membership percentage discount = 割引.
Q5. I negotiated and got 30,000 yen off the price of a used car.
交渉して中古車を3万円＿＿＿してもらった。
Koushou shite chuukosha wo sanju-man-en ___ shite moratta.
Answer: 値引き (nebiki)
Reason: Fixed yen amount negotiated off = 値引き.
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