償い|つぐないtsugunai[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nounrecompense; indemnity; atonement
   この次つぎに償つぐないをするよ。↗

   I will make up for it next time.

• Synonym補償ほしょうNeutralCompensates losses or expenses with money, mostly in legal and administrative contexts like 「損失補償」. 「償い」 goes further, carrying the sense of atoning for a wrong.
• Synonym代償だいしょうNeutralThe price paid to reach a goal, or paying compensation on someone's behalf. 「償い」 centers on making up for a wrong you yourself caused.
• Synonym賠償ばいしょうNeutralA legal term for compensating damage you caused, as in 「損害賠償」. 「償い」 is broader, covering apologies and atonement as well as money.
• Synonym弁償べんしょうNeutralPaying money for things you broke or lost; the everyday word for this. 「償い」 can also mean making up for a sin or wrongdoing.
• Synonym埋め合わせうめあわせNeutralMaking it up to someone afterwards, e.g. a meal after breaking a promise; common in colloquial speech. 「償い」 is more solemn, often involving wrongdoing.
• Synonym報償ほうしょうWrittenWritten/formal word for compensation for damage; can also mean retaliation. Rare in everyday use—prefer 「補償」 or 「償い」.
• Related補いおぎないNeutralMaking up for what is lacking—money, ability, knowledge, anything missing. 「償い」 targets damage or wrongdoing you caused.
• Related報いむくいNeutralWhat an action brings back to you—reward, but often retribution for evil deeds. 「償い」 is something you actively do to make amends.
• Related填補てんぽWrittenA written/formal term for filling a shortfall or deficit, common in insurance and legal writing. It carries no nuance of apology or atonement.
• Related報奨ほうしょうWrittenA written/formal word for money given to reward an action, as in 「報奨金」. Its direction is the opposite of 「償い」, which makes up for a wrong.
• Related謝金しゃきんWrittenA written/formal word for money paid as thanks, such as a lecture honorarium. It has nothing to do with compensation or atonement.

To pay for something you broke or lost, use 「弁償」; for legal compensation, 「賠償」 or 「補償」. 「償い」 itself is for atoning for a wrong or sin. To make up for a small everyday slip, like a broken promise, 「埋め合わせ」 fits.

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

1. つぐなうこと。また、つぐなうための金銭きんせんや行為こうい。