JLPT N3・N4 Vocabulary – Differences between “価格”, “値段” and “料金”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “価格かかく“, “値段ねだん” and “料金りょうきん“
2. 価格かかく
3. 値段ねだん
4. 料金りょうきん
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Quiz
8. Similar Articles
9. Comment

Q: Can you explain the differences between “価格かかく“, “値段ねだん“, and “料金りょうきん“?

A: These three terms refer to the amount of money for goods or services, but each has subtle differences in meaning.

価格かかく (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
Represents the value of a product in terms of currency; a measure of a product’s value in monetary terms.

[Point]
A slightly formal expression used in markets, business, and other formal situations.

[Commonly Used Words]
商品しょうひん価格かかく(product price)・価格かかく帯たい(price range)・価格かかく動向どうこう(price trend)・価格かかく競争きょうそう(price competition)・低てい価格かかく(low price)・希望きぼう価格かかく(desired price)

[Examples]
商品しょうひんの価格かかくを見直みなおしました。
We have reviewed the prices of our products.

わたしたちの価格かかくに勝かてる会社かいしゃはないでしょう。
No company can beat our prices.

わたしたちの店みせでは手てごろな価格かかくの宝石ほうせきを扱あつかっています。
Our store offers reasonably priced jewelry.

値段ねだん (JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
The amount of money at the time of sale; the monetary value of an item.

[Point]
Commonly used in everyday, colloquial situations.

[Examples]
ここのケーキは値段ねだんが安やすいのにおいしいです。
The cakes here are cheap but delicious.

こちらの値段ねだんは980円えんです。　
The price for this is 980 yen.

このシャツの値段ねだんはいくらですか？
How much is the price of this shirt?

料金りょうきん (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
The money paid for using or utilizing services.

[Commonly Used Words]
電話でんわ料金りょうきん(phone bill)・電気でんき料金りょうきん(electricity bill)・宿泊しゅくはく料金りょうきん(accommodation fee)・公共こうきょう料金りょうきん(public utility charges)・サービス料金りょうきん(service charges)

[Examples]
携帯けいたいの料金りょうきんがもっと安やすくなってほしいです。
I wish the cell phone bill were cheaper.

ガス料金りょうきんの支払しはらいを忘わすれないようにします。
I will make sure not to forget to pay the gas bill.

ここでは、追加ついかサービスには別途べっと料金りょうきんがかかります。
Here, additional services incur extra charges.

Let’s Compare

[価格かかく・値段ねだん]

The meanings of these two words are almost the same in some cases, but strictly speaking, there are differences. “価格かかく” focuses on the “value” of the item, while “値段ねだん” refers to the “amount” paid by the consumer.

First, let’s look at examples where swapping the words results in almost the same meaning.

[Examples]
このパソコンの価格かかくは高たかいです。
このパソコンの値段ねだんは高たかいです。
The price of this computer is high.
⇒ There is no significant difference in meaning, but “価格かかく” implies the “value” equivalent, while “値段ねだん” refers to the “money paid,” highlighting a subtle nuance.

Now, how about cases with subtle differences?

[Examples]
金きんの価格かかくが上あがっています。
金きんの値段ねだんが上あがっています。
The price of gold is rising.
⇒ If referring to the value of gold in the market, “価格かかく” is appropriate. If referring to the price of gold sold in a store, “値段ねだん” is more natural.

　　
However, in the following case, swapping the words would sound unnatural.

[Examples]
〇ここのコーヒーの値段ねだんは高たかすぎます。
△ ここのコーヒーの価格かかくは高たかすぎます。
The price of the coffee here is too high.
⇒ Since it refers to the amount of money paid for the coffee sold, not the market value, “値段ねだん” is more natural.

*Note that words commonly used with “価格かかく” cannot be substituted with “値段ねだん“.

[Examples]
〇商品しょうひん価格かかくを見直みなおしました。
× 商品しょうひん値段ねだんを見直みなおしました。
We reviewed the product prices.
　　　
〇お客きゃく様さまの価格かかく動向どうこうを調査ちょうさしました。
× お客きゃく様さまの値段ねだん動向どうこうを調査ちょうさしました。
We investigated customer pricing trends.

---

[料金りょうきん]

This refers to the amount paid for using a service.
For example, it applies to public utility charges such as electricity and gas. Therefore, it is distinctly different from “価格かかく” and “値段ねだん“.

[Examples]
ガス料金りょうきんが先月せんげつより高たかくなってる！使つかいすぎたかな。
The gas bill is higher than last month! Maybe I used too much.

このホテルは東京とうきょうにあるのに宿泊しゅくはく料金りょうきんがとても安やすいです。
Although this hotel is in Tokyo, the accommodation rates are very cheap.

Summary

[価格かかく]

• Focuses on the “value” of an item, representing the value of a product in the market in terms of currency.

[値段ねだん]

• Refers to the “amount” paid by the consumer.

[料金りょうきん]

• Refers to the amount paid for the use of services or public utilities.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

---