How to say "praise" in Japanese

• 褒めるほめるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbPraise as an action toward a person: to compliment them or speak well of them — a child for good work, a colleague for effort. The verb for the act of praising someone.
  ヘレンはみんなにほめられて顔かおを赤あかくした。↗

  Helen blushed at their praise.
• 賞賛しょうさんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbPraise as a noun: admiration or commendation for someone's achievements, work, or conduct, the kind of praise a performance or a book earns. It names the praise itself, not the act of telling someone.
  この本ほんは賞賛しょうさんに値あたいする。↗

  This book is worthy of praise.
• 賛美さんびJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbPraise that exalts or glorifies its object. It is strongly associated with worship — praising God — and is also used for extolling beauty, nature, or ideals in glowing terms.
  彼女かのじょの美貌びぼうは全校ぜんこうの賛美さんびのまとだ。↗

  Her beauty is the admiration of the whole school.
• 賛さんCommon
  nounA marginal match: on its own, seldom the word you want for 'praise'. It appears chiefly inside other expressions; standing alone it suggests a tribute — praise in words — rather than the act of praising.
• 礼賛らいさんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbReverent praise that borders on worship or adoration: exalting something — a deity, an ideal, a way of life — as worthy of honor. Choose it when 'praise' implies reverence or devotion rather than a compliment.

For the everyday act of praising someone, use 「褒める」; 賞賛 is praise as admiration for achievement; 賛美 glorifies, especially in worship; 礼賛 adds reverence or adoration; 賛 alone is seldom the word you want.

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

• 褒めるほめるto praise
• 賞賛しょうさんpraise
• 賛美さんびpraise
• 賛さんpraise
• 礼賛らいさんpraise
• 称えるたたえるto praise
• 頌しょうpraise
• 褒めちぎるほめちぎるto praise (to the skies)
• 賛嘆さんたんpraise
• 賞するしょうするto praise
• 称揚しょうようpraise
• 讃賞さんしょうpraise
• 褒め奉るほめまつるto praise
• 褒め立てるほめたてるto praise
• 褒辞ほうじpraise
• 嘉するよみするto praise (someone of lower status)
• 褒詞ほうしpraise
• 嘆賞たんしょうadmiration
• 賞美しょうびadmiration
• 嘉賞かしょうapproval
• 推称すいしょうadmiration
• 賛辞を贈るさんじをおくるto offer a tribute
• 賞詞しょうし(words of) praise
• 賛するさんするto praise
• 讃談さんだんpraise (second of the five gates of mindfulness)
• 嗟嘆さたんadmiration
• あげるto praise
• 称するしょうするto praise
• 称すしょうすto praise