金額 Gift Envelope Kanji Converter (Old-Style Amount 大字)

When you give money at a Japanese wedding, funeral or other ceremony, the amount on the gift envelope is written in old-style kanji numerals called daiji (大字). The simple 一・二・三 can be altered with a single brush stroke into something else, so formal envelopes and financial documents use the multi-stroke equivalents 壱・弐・参 instead. The yen unit is written 圓 (the traditional form of 円), and 10,000 is 萬 (the traditional form of 万).

The full form is: 金 (the "money" prefix) + amount in daiji + 圓. For example, 30,000 becomes 金参萬圓, and 35,000 becomes 金参萬伍阡圓. The 金 prefix and 圓 suffix frame the number so it cannot be silently extended.

This converter handles amounts from 1,000 up to 99,999,999 yen and renders the traditional 圓 spelling (旧字体, old character form) preferred on ceremony envelopes. Pair the amount with the correct noshi label, and decide the figure using the wedding gift or condolence money calculators.

The converter breaks the number into groups (億, 萬, 阡, 百, 拾) and maps each digit to its daiji form, then wraps the result with 金 ... 圓. The algorithm follows the standard etiquette-guide rule:

So 35,000 is parsed as 3 × 萬 + 5 × 阡, giving 金参萬伍阡圓. The tool also flags amounts containing 4 (四, sounds like death) or 9 (九, sounds like suffering), which are usually avoided for weddings and funerals. For the modern spelling helper and bill-count warnings, use our companion envelope amount converter.

1. Enter the yen amount you plan to give.
2. Choose the ceremony type (wedding, funeral, or other).
3. Read the old-style kanji line (金参萬圓 etc.).
4. Note any 4 or 9 warning for the chosen ceremony.
5. Copy it vertically onto the inner envelope in sumi ink.

What does daiji (大字) mean?

Daiji are the old-style, multi-stroke kanji used for numbers on financial documents and gift envelopes - 壱弐参 instead of 一二三 - so the amount cannot be easily altered by adding a stroke.

How do I write 30,000 yen in old kanji?

金参萬圓 - 金 (prefix), 参 (3), 萬 (10,000 unit), 圓 (yen). Written vertically on the inner envelope in sumi ink.

圓 or 円 - which is correct?

圓 is the traditional form (旧字体) preferred on formal ceremony envelopes. 円 is the modern everyday form. For weddings and funerals, 圓 is the safer etiquette choice.

萬 or 万 - which do I use?

萬 is the traditional form used on envelopes and formal documents. 万 is the modern form. Use 萬 for ceremony envelopes.

How do I write 100,000 yen?

金壱拾萬圓 - 壱 (1) + 拾 (10) + 萬 (10,000) + 圓. Note 壱拾 (1 × 10) rather than just 拾, for clarity.

Why does the tool warn about 4 and 9?

4 (四, shi) sounds like death (死) and 9 (九, ku) sounds like suffering (苦), so amounts like 40,000 and 90,000 are avoided for weddings and funerals.

Do I write the amount on the outer or inner envelope?

The inner envelope (中袋). The outer envelope shows only the label (御祝, 御霊前) and your name; the amount and sender address go on the inner envelope.

Write the amount in a vertical line on the front of the inner envelope (中袋), in black sumi ink with a brush or 筆ペン - never a ballpoint. The outer envelope carries only the label (御祝, 御霊前) and your name. Use 圓 (not 円) and 萬 (not 万) for the most formal etiquette. For 30,000 write 金参萬圓; for 100,000 write 金壱拾萬圓. Avoid 40,000 and 90,000 entirely for weddings and funerals. Keep bills crisp (new bills for celebrations, slightly used for funerals). Handle the envelope with both hands at the ceremony. Check the life-event guide for the full ceremony flow and hanko for related documents.