How to say "incentive" in Japanese

• インセンティブCommon
  nounThe direct loanword, used chiefly for incentives in business and economics, such as rewards, bonuses, or schemes designed to motivate people. The easiest choice in commercial contexts.
  米国べいこくにおいて「リベート」は、主おもにメーカーが消費者しょうひしゃに直接ちょくせつ提供ていきょうするインセンティブ手段しゅだんとして広ひろく認識にんしきされている。↗

  In America 'rebate' is widely recognized, generally as an incentive where makers give back directly to consumers.
• 励みはげみCommon
  nounCovers 'incentive' in the sense of something that encourages or spurs a person on, often emotional or personal. A kind word or a goal can be someone's 励み; it is warmer than a formal reward.
  昇進しょうしんが見送みおくられた女おんなには働はたらく励はげみがない。↗

  She had no incentive to work after she was refused a promotion.
• 動機どうきJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounUsed for 'incentive' meaning the motive or reason that leads someone to act. It points to what is inside the person's mind rather than to an external reward offered to them.
  あの人ひとの動機どうきが信用しんようできなかった。↗

  I was distrustful of his motives.
• 誘因ゆういんCommon
  nounA formal, somewhat technical term for an incentive or factor that induces something, often a contributing cause of an event or condition. Rarely the word for everyday encouragement; it suits analytical or academic writing.
• 刺激しげきJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers 'incentive' only loosely, in the sense of a stimulus, impulse, or spur to action or activity. It is really 'stimulus'; choose it when the emphasis is on something that provokes or energizes rather than rewards.
  昇進しょうしんがより一層いっそう働はたらく刺激しげきとなった。↗

  Promotion was an incentive to harder work.

Use 「インセンティブ」 for business or reward-based incentives, 「励み」 for personal encouragement, 動機 for a motive behind action, 誘因 for a contributing cause, and 刺激 for a stimulus or spur.

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

• インセンティブincentive
• 励みはげみencouragement
• 動機どうきmotive
• 誘因ゆういんcontributing cause
• 導因どういんincentive
• 賞与金しょうよきんincentive
• 奨励金しょうれいきんsubsidy
• 奨金しょうきんsubsidy
• 優遇措置ゆうぐうそちpreferential treatment
• 刺激しげきimpetus
• 誘い水さそいみずcause