How to say "retribution" in Japanese

• 罰ばちJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounRetribution in the sense of punishment for wrongdoing, especially divine punishment believed to be visited on wrongdoers, rather than an act of revenge carried out by the wronged party themselves.
• 報復ほうふくCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbRetribution as a deliberate act of paying someone back for a wrong — retaliation or reprisal carried out by a person, group, or state against those who harmed them.
  私は彼かれに報復ほうふくするつもりだ。↗

  I will take my revenge on him.
• 報いむくいCommon
  nounRetribution as what a person's own deeds bring back to them — the punishment or consequence one receives in return for how one has acted, rather than a payback one actively inflicts.
  悪事あくじの報むくい。↗

  What one has sown one will have to reap.

Use 罰 for retribution as punishment, especially divine punishment for wrongdoing; 「報い」 for the punishment one's own deeds bring back to one; and 報復 for retribution as deliberate retaliation or revenge against someone.

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

• 罰ばち(divine) punishment
• 報復ほうふくretaliation
• 応報おうほうretribution
• 冥罰みょうばつretribution
• 因果応報いんがおうほうretribution
• 因果因縁いんがいんねんcause and effect
• 報いむくいpunishment