Japanese word of the day: お釣り(Otsuri)

What does お釣り(Otsuri) mean?

お釣り(Otsuri) (noun) – Change (the money you get back after paying more than the price). Whenever you pay for something in cash and hand over more than the exact amount, the coins and bills returned to you are called お釣り.

Kanji details for 釣

Character: 釣 — angling, fish, catch, allure, ensnare
Radical: metal, gold 金 (釒)

Example sentences with お釣り(Otsuri)

• お釣りを返してください。
  (Otsuri o kaeshite kudasai.)
  💴 Please give me back the change. 

• お釣りはいくらでしたか？
  (Otsuri wa ikura deshita ka?)
  ❓ How much was the change?

• お釣りは取っておいてください。
  (Otsuri wa totte oite kudasai.)
  🙌 Keep the change.

お釣り(Otsuri) in context

お釣り is a word you’ll use any time you shop with cash in Japan, whether you’re at a convenience store, restaurant, or market. After you pay, the cashier will count out your お釣り and hand it back to you, often with both hands as a gesture of politeness.

The polite prefix お makes the word softer and more customer-friendly. While Japan is increasingly cashless, knowing お釣り is still essential for daily life, especially in places that only accept cash.

A quick tip: If you ever feel short-changed, you can politely say, “お釣りが違いますよ” (“You gave me the wrong change”). And if you want to leave a tip (which is rare in Japan), you can say, “お釣りはいいです” (“No need for change”).