How to say "compensation" in Japanese

• 補正ほせいCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers compensation in the technical sense of correcting an instrument or measurement, as with a pendulum. It is really 'correction' or 'adjustment', so it is seldom the word you want for compensation generally.
• 賠償ばいしょうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCompensation owed for damage or injury, including legal damages and war reparations. Choose this when money is paid as restitution for harm, as in an accident or lawsuit.
  彼かれは怪我けがの賠償ばいしょうとして多額たがくの金かねを受け取うけとった。↗

  He received a large sum of money in compensation for his injury.
• 補償ほしょうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCompensation that makes up for a loss or hardship, such as indemnification for damage. It covers reparation in the sense of restoring what someone has lost, without necessarily implying fault.
  政府せいふは損害そんがいを補償ほしょうしなければならなかった。↗

  The government had to make up for the loss.
• 対価たいかCommon
  nounCompensation as equivalent value given in return for something, especially payment or consideration for goods, services, or work. Use it when compensation is a fair exchange, not a remedy for loss.
  それを発明はつめいした教授きょうじゅは大学だいがくから相当そうとうの対価たいかを受うける権利けんりがある。↗

  The professor who invented it has the right to reasonable remuneration from the university.
• 代償だいしょうCommon
  nounCompensation in the sense of something given up or paid as the price of achieving something, or an indemnification. It often carries the nuance of a sacrifice or cost that stands in for what was lost.
  彼女かのじょは親切しんせつの代償だいしょうとして何なんも受け取うけとらなかった。↗

  She got nothing in reward for her kindness.

Use 賠償 for legal damages, 補償 for making up a loss, 対価 for payment in return, 代償 for a price or substitute cost, and 補正 only for technical correction rather than compensation.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 補正ほせいcorrection
• 賠償ばいしょうcompensation
• 補償ほしょうcompensation
• 対価たいかcompensation
• 代償だいしょうcompensation
• 手当てあてsalary
• 見返りみかえりreward
• 弁償べんしょうcompensation
• 埋め合わせうめあわせcompensation
• 損害賠償そんがいばいしょうrestitution
• 報償ほうしょうcompensation
• 褒奨ほうしょうcompensation
• 報償金ほうしょうきんcompensation
• 報償費ほうしょうひcompensation
• 協力費きょうりょくひcompensation (e.g. for participating in a clinical trial)
• 対償たいしょうcompensation
• 贖いあがないatonement
• 弁償金べんしょうきんreparation
• 填補てんぽmaking up (a deficit, loss, etc.)
• 報奨ほうしょうbonus
• 有償ゆうしょう(involving) payment
• 代わりかわりcompensation
• 穴埋めあなうめmaking up (for a loss, damage, etc.)