How to say "deserve" in Japanese

• 値するあたいするJLPT N1approx.Common
  suru verb, intransitive verbCovers the core sense of 'deserve' and 'merit': being worthy of something on account of one's value or conduct. It is the natural choice for contexts like deserving praise, attention, or consideration.
  あの博物館はくぶつかんはくるに値あたいする。↗

  That museum is worth visiting.
• 足りるたりるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbIts central meaning is to be sufficient or enough; the gloss 'deserve' reflects a marginal usage of being worthy of something. For the ordinary sense of 'deserve', this is seldom the word you want.
• 足るたるJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbLike 足りる, this word is really about being sufficient or adequate; the 'deserve' gloss is a marginal sense. When you mean that someone merits something, 値する is the word to reach for.

Use 「値する」 for deserving or meriting something through worth, such as praise or attention; 「足りる」 and 「足る」 are primarily about sufficiency, so for 'deserve' 「値する」 is usually the safer choice.

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

• 値するあたいするto be worth
• 足りるたりるto be worth doing
• 足るたるto be worth doing