1Gold (the chemical element); a yellow, lustrous precious metal used in jewelry, industry, and investment. きん is the Sino-Japanese on-reading; the alternative reading かね (separate entry) is generally treated as a different word.
金は柔らかく、加工しやすい金属です。
Gold is a soft metal and easy to work with.
博物館には純金の工芸品が展示されている。
The museum displays artworks made of pure gold.
近年、金の価格は大きく変動している。
In recent years, the price of gold has fluctuated significantly.
2The color gold; a lustrous golden-yellow shade, used to describe the color of clothing, accessories, and decorations.
彼女は金のドレスを着てパーティーに来た。
She came to the party wearing a gold dress.
夕日に照らされた山が金に輝いた。
The mountain glowed gold in the setting sun.
金のアクセサリーは光に当たるとよく映える。
Gold accessories look striking when they catch the light.
3A gold medal or first-place finish in a competition. Used in phrases like 金を取る ('take the gold') or 金メダル ('gold medal').
彼はオリンピックで金を獲得した。
He won a gold medal at the Olympics.
次の大会では絶対に金を取りたい。
I absolutely want to take gold at the next tournament.
日本選手が二大会連続で金に輝いた。
The Japanese athlete shone with gold for two tournaments in a row.
4Used metaphorically for something of great value, as in the proverb 沈黙は金 ('silence is golden'). In casual speech, expressions like これは金だ can mean 'this is gold/priceless.'
『沈黙は金、雄弁は銀』ということわざがある。
There is a proverb: 'Silence is gold, eloquence is silver.'
彼の助言は本当に金だった。聞いておいてよかった。
His advice was truly gold — I'm glad I listened.
5Money or gold coin (as a noun). In modern everyday Japanese, standalone きん rarely means 'money' on its own — it appears mostly in compounds (賞金 prize money, 借金 debt, 現金 cash, 料金 fee) or in historical contexts referring to gold coins. When 金 alone means 'money' in modern speech, it is normally read かね (separate entry).
江戸時代には金一両という貨幣単位が広く使われていた。
In the Edo period, the currency unit one ryō of gold (金一両) was widely used.
彼は古い金を骨董品として集めている。
He collects old gold coins as antiques.
6A formal notation placed before a monetary amount in invoices, receipts, or contracts — e.g., 金五万円 ('the sum of ¥50,000'). Used in formal documents.
請求書には金五万円と記載されている。
The invoice states the sum of ¥50,000 (金五万円).
契約書には金一千万円と明記されている。
The contract clearly states the sum of ¥10,000,000 (金一千万円).
7An abbreviation for 金曜日 ('Friday'), used as a one-character label on calendars, class schedules, and timetables.
授業は月・水・金にあります。
Classes are on Mon, Wed, and Fri.
予定表で『金』と書いてある日は会議が入っています。
On the schedule, the days marked 金 have meetings.
8A unit indicating the purity of gold in karats. Attached after a number — 18金, 24金 — using the 24-part scale where 24 karats is pure gold.
彼女は18金の指輪を身につけていた。
She was wearing an 18-karat gold ring.
このネックレスは24金なので非常に高価だ。
This necklace is 24-karat gold, so it's very expensive.
9One of the Five Phases (Wu Xing) in traditional East Asian philosophy — wood, fire, earth, metal, water. Associated with autumn, the west, and the color white.
五行では金は秋と西の方角を象徴する。
In the Five Phases, metal symbolizes autumn and the western direction.
10The Jin dynasty (1115–1234) of Chinese history, founded by the Jurchen people, which conquered the Northern Song and ruled northern China. A historical term.
金は12世紀から13世紀にかけて中国北部を支配した王朝だ。
The Jin dynasty ruled northern China from the 12th to the 13th century.
11An abbreviation for 金将 (kinshō, 'gold general') in shogi — a piece that moves one square forward, sideways, or diagonally forward, important for defending the king.
相手の攻めを金で受け止めた。
I defended against my opponent's attack with the gold general.
玉の周りを金と銀でしっかり囲って守る。
You protect the king by securely surrounding him with gold and silver generals.
12A vulgar slang abbreviation of 金玉 (kintama, 'testicles'). Coarse-sounding — not used in formal settings or in front of superiors.
ボールが当たって金を痛めたらしい。
He got hit by a ball and apparently hurt his balls.