How to say "reward" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 報酬ほうしゅうnounPayment or compensation in return for work, services, or effort — the 'reward' of remuneration, a fee, or a wage, not a prize for a good deed.
- 褒美ほうびnounA reward or prize given in recognition of a deed or achievement, often from a superior to a subordinate or a parent to a child; also a small treat for doing well.
- 見返りみかえりnounSomething done or given in return for a favor, gift, or kindness; used chiefly when the point is whether such a return is expected, as in kindness given with no thought of return.
- 報いるむくいるichidan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe verb 'to reward' or 'repay': to recompense someone for service, effort, or kindness. Deeds are also said to be repaid in kind, so it covers retribution as well as reward.
- 報いむくいnounThe noun counterpart of 報いる: the return one's deeds earn. It can be a deserved reward, but it also serves for retribution — the punishment that wrongdoing brings.
Use 報酬 for payment for work or services, 褒美 for a prize recognizing a deed, 「見返り」 for something expected in return, and 「報い」 or 「報いる」 for deeds being repaid, good or bad.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 報酬ほうしゅうremuneration
- 褒美ほうびreward
- 見返りみかえりreward
- 報いるむくいるto reward
- 報いむくいreward
- 賞金しょうきんprize money
- 謝礼しゃれいreward
- ご褒美ごほうびreward
- 褒賞ほうしょうprize
- 報奨金ほうしょうきんcash bonus
- 懸賞けんしょうoffering a prize
- 報うむくうto reward
- リワードreward
- 恩賞おんしょうreward
- 駄賃だちんreward
- 謝金しゃきんreward
- 報奨ほうしょうbonus
- 禄ろくstipend
- 懸賞金けんしょうきんprize money
- 賞典しょうてんprize
- 謝礼金しゃれいきんreward money
- お駄賃おだちんlittle something
- 賞与しょうよreward
- 礼れいreward
- リターンreward (in crowdfunding)
- お礼おれいreward
See also
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