Japanese kanji 税: tax and prices

The idea

税 has 12 strokes and is read ぜい in 税金, 消費税, 税込み and 税率. Follow the linked stroke diagram; the table puts each word in context.

Examples

• 税金ぜいきんを払はらいました。I paid the tax.
• 消費税しょうひぜいは価格かかくに含ふくまれています。Consumption tax is included in the price.
• 税込ぜいこみの価格かかくを確認かくにんしてください。Please check the tax-included price.
• この価格かかくは税ぜいを含ふくみません。This price does not include tax.
• 確定申告かくていしんこくを提出ていしゅつしました。I submitted my tax return.
• 税率ぜいりつが変かわりました。The tax rate has changed.

Watch out

税込み means tax is included; 税抜き means it is excluded. Do not assume a displayed price includes tax without checking the label.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 税金 in hiragana.

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   ぜいきん

   税金 is ぜいきん: tax or taxes. The example says the tax was paid.

2. Write the reading of 税率 in hiragana.

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   ぜいりつ

   税率 is ぜいりつ: a tax rate. The example says the rate changed.

3. Choose the missing kanji: 消費＿（しょうひぜい）［税／金］.

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   税

   税 completes 消費税（しょうひぜい）, meaning consumption tax.

Use it today

Write 税 using the stroke diagram. Cover the table, read 税金 and 税率, then make a sentence with one.