ちゃら ／チャラ = chara (Mini Lesson #140)
一年間の家賃、これでチャラにして下さい。
= Ichinenkan no yachin kore de chara ni shite kudasai.
= Let me give you this to cover this year’s rent and we’ll call it square.
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I will teach you a fun conversational word today.
It’s ちゃら/ チャラ (= chara). You can write it with hiragana or katakana.
It is a colloquial expression but older people use it as well.
The verb form is ちゃら / チャラにする(= chara ni suru). It means to call it even, to make it even between
In other words we say
•差し引きゼロにする
= sashihiki zero ni suru
= to make the balance zero
or
•貸し借りなしにする
= kashikari nashi ni suru
= to call it square
•to borrow
借りる= kariru
• to lend / to rent
貸す = kasu
•損得なしにする
= sontoku nashi ni suru
= to make it breakeven
So when you owe someone money, you try to pay them back with something equivalent to what you owe saying
Ex. これでちゃらにして下さい。
= Korede chara ni shite kudasai.
= Please call it square with this.
You can just say,
Ex. これでチャラね！(even more casual)
= Kore de chara ne!
= Now we are even!
Ex. 「はい、この間、借りた１００円。これでちゃらね。」
= Hai, kono aida karita hyakuen. Korede chara ne.
= Here’s 100 yen that I borrowed from you the other day. Now let’s call it square! / I don’t owe you anything.
Ex.「今、お金ないからこの映画のチケットでちゃらにしてくれる？」
= Ima okane nai kara kono eiga no chikettto de chara ni shite kureru?
= I don’t have any money now so can I give you this movie ticket instead?
Ex. 「いいよ、じゃあちゃらにしておく。」
= IIyo, jaa chara ni shite oku.
= OK, then you don’t owe me anything now. (I will call it even with this.)
After doing something for someone,
Ex. この間助けてもらったからこれでちゃらにしてやるよ。（male talk)
= Kono aida tasukete moratta kara kore de chara ni shite kure.
= Since you helped me the other day, it (=what I do for you now) makes even. /Now we don’t owe each other anything.
Note : Of course, this is a very casual word so you won’t be able to use it in business situations. I can guarantee you will be fired if you use it. 
マギー先生より= Maggie sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
これでチャラにできなければ私の大切なおもちゃも付けます。
= Kore de chara ni dekinakereba watashi no taisetsu na omocha mo tsukemasu.
= If that’s not enough for you to call even then I will add my favorite toy, too.
6 Responses to “ちゃら ／チャラ = chara (Mini Lesson #140)”
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@maggiesensei 
Amelie on June 17th, 2011
I agree with Aki. This blog makes learning Japanese fun. I enjoy the pictures too because it helps me retain what I’ve learned.
Thanks for the lessons!
Maggie on June 17th, 2011
@Amelie
Thank you for your nice comment, Amelie!!!
I will keep making fun and useful lessons!!
Aki on June 16th, 2011
ミニレッスンを、ありがとう！！
I am REALLYYYY Enjoying these!! ^~^
Maggie on June 16th, 2011
@Aki
Akiちゃん、いつもコメントありがと〜！！
It’s good to know someone enjoys the lessons!
Aki on June 16th, 2011
oh, I found your lessons VERY useful!! Besides, the main subject of the lesson they also teach me words like 家賃, 借りる, etc. So it helps me expand my vocab! Your website is THE BEST!!!
Maggie on June 16th, 2011
@Aki
Ohhhh how sweet! じゃあこれからもがんばるよ〜！！