金利

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 金利 is read as きんり and is a financial noun for the rate of interest applied to borrowed or deposited principal.
• Basic usage: Use 住宅ローンの金利 for the rate on a product and 金利が上がる／下がる for changes in that rate.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Difference from 利息
  • 金利 is a percentage rate; 利息 is the actual amount paid or received based on that rate.
• Rate and payment
  • A higher rate can increase repayments, but the rate and the payment are distinct cause-and-effect quantities.