The Difference Between “値引き” (nebiki) and “割引” (waribiki)

(Joy finding a clearance item [Nebiki] vs. Joy calculating a percentage sale [Waribiki])

“100 yen off!”
“20% off!”
In Japanese, we use different words depending on how the price is reduced. 値引き (Nebiki) is for money amounts, and 割引 (Waribiki) is for percentages. Let’s save money with Joy and Ken!

🗣 Conversation Scene

Joy and Ken are at a supermarket in the evening.

Joy

見てください！このお弁当（べんとう）、黄色いシールが貼（は）ってあります。
「50円引（び）き」…これは割引（わりびき）ですか？
(Look! This bento has a yellow sticker. “-50 yen”… Is this “Waribiki”?)

Ken

それは値引き（ねびき）ですね。
「割引」は「20%オフ」のような、計算（けいさん）が必要な時に使いますよ。
(That is “Nebiki”. “Waribiki” is used when you need to calculate a percentage, like “20% off”.)

💡 Explanation

Money or Percentage?

Point 1: 値引き (Nebiki) = Price Reduction (Amount)

Kanji: Price (値) + Pull/Subtract (引)
You simply subtract a specific amount of money. It is often used for clearance items or haggling.

100円値引き。
(100 yen off.)
値引きしてください！
(Please give me a discount! [Haggling])

Point 2: 割引 (Waribiki) = Discount (Ratio)

Kanji: Ratio/Percentage (割) + Pull/Subtract (引)
You calculate a percentage off. It implies a system or rule (Student discount, Sale campaign).

20パーセント割引。
(20% off.)
学生（がくせい）割引。
(Student discount. [Often shortened to “Gaku-wari”])

📊 Comparison Table

Word	Logic	Example
値引き (Nebiki)	Fixed Amount (Minus Money)	– ¥500 Clearance sticker
割引 (Waribiki)	Percentage / Rate (Ratio)	– 10% Student Discount

🚧 Joy’s Mistake

(At a flea market / garage sale)

❌ Wrong: すみません、割引（わりびき） できますか？
(Tone: “Can you apply a percentage deduction system?” This sounds too formal and mathematical for a flea market.)

✅ Right: すみません、値引き（ねびき） できますか？
(Tone: “Can you lower the price a bit?” This is the standard phrase for haggling.)