報い・酬い|むくいmukui[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nounreward; recompense; return
2. nounpunishment; retribution
   悪事あくじの報むくい。↗

   What one has sown one will have to reap.

• Synonym報酬ほうしゅうNeutralPay for work or services, as in 「報酬を支払う」. Unlike 報い, it has only the positive side — money you receive, never punishment or retribution.
• Synonym褒賞ほうしょうWrittenWritten word for an award or prize honoring outstanding deeds or works, as in 「褒賞を受ける」; 報い is broader and everyday.
• Synonym褒美ほうびCasualColloquial word for a reward given in praise, as in 「ご褒美」; warmer and friendlier than 報い, and only about good things.
• Synonym恩賞おんしょうFormalFormal, historical term for a lord rewarding a retainer's merits with money, goods or rank; not used for everyday returns like 報い.
• Synonym報奨ほうしょうWrittenWritten word for money given to encourage some action, as in 「報奨金」; narrower than 報い and always positive.
• Synonym報償ほうしょうWrittenWritten word for compensating for damage; it can also mean retaliation. 報い is broader, covering rewards as well.
• Related代償だいしょうNeutralThe sacrifice or price paid to reach a goal, as in 「大きな代償」; 報い is what comes back to you, 代償 is what you give up.
• Related埋め合わせうめあわせCasualColloquial word for making up for something owed or missed, as in 「今度埋め合わせする」; about compensating, not rewards like 報い.
• Related補償ほしょうNeutralMoney paid to cover a loss or expense, often in legal compensation cases; unlike 報い it never means a reward or punishment.
• Related罰ばちNeutralPunishment from gods or Buddha for wrongdoing, as in 「罰が当たる」; 報い can be good or bad, 罰 is only the bad side.
• Related償いつぐないNeutralAtonement — making amends for a fault with money or deeds; 報い is what your actions bring you, 償い is what you do to make up.
• Related応報おうほうWrittenWritten word for retribution, usually in 「因果応報」; its weight falls on wrongdoing meeting its punishment, whereas 報い is used just as readily for good returns.

「報い」 covers both good and bad returns for one's actions: 「当然の報いを受ける」 for the bad, 「努力の報い」 for the good. For pay for work use 「報酬」, for a reward or prize 「褒美」, and for retribution 「罰」 or 「応報」.

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

1. ある行為こういの結果けっかとして自分じぶんに跳ね返はねかえってくる事柄ことがら。
2. 労苦ろうくに対たいする償つぐない。