維持費

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 維持費 is a noun read いじひ, meaning the cost of keeping an object or facility usable and maintained.
• Basic usage: It can name included expenses such as repairs or describe recurring monthly costs calculated before a purchase.
  • 古い車は修理を含む維持費が高い。 says that an old car has high maintenance costs, including repairs; 購入前に毎月の維持費を計算した。 describes calculating monthly upkeep before making the purchase.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 修理を含む維持費
  • 含む modifies the maintenance costs and states that repairs fall within their scope; it does not make maintenance cost identical to repair cost.
• 毎月の維持費
  • 毎月の shows that the cost may recur month by month rather than being paid only once.
• 維持費 and 購入費
  • 購入費 is the cost of acquiring something, while 維持費 is the continuing cost of keeping it in usable condition afterward.