弁済・辨済|べんさいbensai[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
弁済弁済 is the most common written form and the appropriate default for beginners; use it when writing about repayment, settlement, paying off, or reimbursement.
辨済辨済 is a less common written variant that uses an outdated kanji; beginners should normally use 弁済 instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbrepayment; settlement (of a debt); paying off; reimbursement (of expenses)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 弁済する（べんさいする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 弁済します（べんさいします） |
| Negative (nai) | 弁済しない（べんさいしない） |
| polite (masen) | 弁済しません（べんさいしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 弁済せず・弁済せぬ（べんさいせず・べんさいせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 弁済した（べんさいした） |
| polite (mashita) | 弁済しました（べんさいしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 弁済しなかった（べんさいしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 弁済しませんでした（べんさいしませんでした） |
| Te form | 弁済して（べんさいして） |
| Potential | 弁済できる（べんさいできる） |
| Passive | 弁済される（べんさいされる） |
| Causative | 弁済させる（べんさいさせる） |
| Causative passive | 弁済させられる（べんさいさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 弁済すれば（べんさいすれば） |
| tara | 弁済したら（べんさいしたら） |
| Volitional | 弁済しよう（べんさいしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 弁済しましょう（べんさいしましょう） |
| Imperative | 弁済しろ（べんさいしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym返済へんさいNeutralThe everyday, most general word for paying back money, as in 「ローンを返済する」; 「弁済」 is the legal term for discharging a debt.
- Synonym清算せいさんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Settling accounts, and figuratively putting the past behind you, as in 「過去を清算」.
- Synonym皆済かいさいWrittenWritten/formal prose for paying off everything in full, as in 「完済」「皆済」; focuses on the completed result.
- Related払い戻すはらいもどすNeutralRefunding money or paying out deposits, as in 「運賃を払い戻す」「預金を払い戻す」; 「弁済」 covers debt discharge more broadly, with a legal flavor.
- Related払い戻しはらいもどしNeutralThe noun form, for refunds, as in 「払い戻し手続き」; leans toward refund services.
- Related返還へんかんWrittenWritten/formal prose for returning something to its owner, as in 「領土返還」; not limited to money.
- Related還付かんぷWrittenWritten/formal prose for official refunds by public authorities, as in 「税金の還付」.
- Related返すかえすNeutralThe most general colloquial verb for returning or paying back; carries no legal coloring.
- Related返却へんきゃくNeutralReturning borrowed items, as in 「本を返却」; leans toward physical objects rather than money.
- Related返納へんのうWrittenWritten/formal prose for handing back money or items received to the original owner or authorities, as in 「免許返納」「給与を返納する」; not specifically about repaying debts.
- Related返金へんきんNeutralRefunding money, as in 「返金保証」; leans toward refunds given to customers.
- Related割り戻すわりもどすNeutralReturning part of the purchase price — rebates and kickbacks; leans toward commercial discounts.
- Related返戻へんれいWrittenWritten/formal prose for returning or giving back — documents or money both work, as in 「解約返戻金」.
- Related返付へんぷWrittenWritten/formal prose for returning things to their original owner; rare, with a legal flavor.
- Antonym借り入れかりいれNeutralBorrowing money — the opposite of the repayment that 「弁済」 describes.
- Antonym借金しゃっきんNeutralBeing in debt — the opposite of the paying off that 「弁済」 describes.
- Antonym未払いみはらいNeutralNot yet paid — the opposite of the settled, discharged state that 「弁済」 denotes.
- Antonym借入しゃくにゅうNeutralSame word as the previous entry; 「借入」 is merely an alternative spelling, also meaning borrowing funds, the opposite of 「弁済」.
For paying back money in everyday use, 「返済」 and 「返す」 are the default; 「弁済」 is the legal term for discharging a debt or paying damages, as in 「債務を弁済する」「代位弁済」. For refunds use 「払い戻し」 or 「返金」; 「清算」 covers settling accounts and figuratively closing out the past, 「皆済」 paying off in full, 「返還」 returning things to their owner, 「返却」 borrowed items. The antonyms are 「借り入れ」 (borrowing), 「借金」 (debt) and 「未払い」 (unpaid).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
