Meaning

Primary

Payment

Alternative

Brushing Off

Word Type

noun, suffix

Explanation

If 払う is "to pay" or "to brush off," then the noun version is payment or brushing off.

Usually 払い is tacked on the end of another word, like in カード払い (payment by credit card).

When it indicates a kind of brushing off or brushing away, it appears in words like 足払い (sweeping an opponent's legs in judo) or, more figuratively, せき払い (clearing one's throat).

Reading

はらい
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading comes from 払う, so know that and it will pay forward your knowledge to this one.

Note that when 払い is added to the end of a compound, it becomes ばらい.

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • せき払い

    clearing one's throat

    年払い

    annual payment

    クレジットカード払い

    payment by credit card

    リボ払い

    revolving credit

Context Sentences

現金払いにしていただけるなら、5パーセント引きにさせていただきます。

We offer 5% off if you pay with cash.

漢字は止め、跳ね、払いに注意して書きましょう。

Kanji characters should be written with attention to the stop, brush-up, and brushing-off strokes.

保険料は月払いよりも年払いの方がお得なの、知ってた?

Did you know that paying insurance premiums annually is more economical than paying monthly?

Kanji Composition