手当・手当て|てあてteate[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
手当手当 is the more common form and the recommended choice for learners; use it when writing this word.
手当て手当て is a less common mixed kanji-and-kana form. You may encounter it, but choose 手当 when you need to write the word.
Definitions
- noun, suru verbsalary; pay; compensation; allowance (e.g. housing allowance); benefit; bonusesp. 手当
- noun, suru verbmedical care; treatmentesp. 手当て
- noun, suru verbadvance preparationesp. 手当て
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 手当する（てあてする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 手当します（てあてします） |
| Negative (nai) | 手当しない（てあてしない） |
| polite (masen) | 手当しません（てあてしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 手当せず・手当せぬ（てあてせず・てあてせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 手当した（てあてした） |
| polite (mashita) | 手当しました（てあてしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 手当しなかった（てあてしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 手当しませんでした（てあてしませんでした） |
| Te form | 手当して（てあてして） |
| Potential | 手当できる（てあてできる） |
| Passive | 手当される（てあてされる） |
| Causative | 手当させる（てあてさせる） |
| Causative passive | 手当させられる（てあてさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 手当すれば（てあてすれば） |
| tara | 手当したら（てあてしたら） |
| Volitional | 手当しよう（てあてしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 手当しましょう（てあてしましょう） |
| Imperative | 手当しろ（てあてしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym報酬ほうしゅうWrittenWritten: pay for work done or services rendered, with a broad range; 「手当」 mostly means allowances paid under set headings, and can also mean treatment.
- SynonymケアNeutralNeutral loanword: nursing and care, also attention and protection; close to 「手当」 in its treatment and care sense, but not an allowance.
- Related対価たいかWrittenWritten: the consideration or price paid in return for goods or labor. 「手当」 is an allowance or pay, and also covers treatment and advance preparation.
- Related埋め合わせうめあわせNeutralLeans colloquial: making up for a shortfall, as in 「埋め合わせをする」; 「手当」 is an allowance or treatment for injury or illness.
- Related補償ほしょうWrittenWritten: compensating for damage, loss or expenses; 「手当」 allowances are paid under set headings, and can also be granted for injury or illness.
- Related償いつぐないNeutralNeutral: atonement for a wrong, with a moral flavor; also the money or act offered for it. 「手当」 is an allowance or treatment for injury or illness.
- Related代償だいしょうWrittenWritten: the price or sacrifice paid to gain something, and also compensation. 「手当」 is an allowance or treatment for injury or illness.
- Related賠償ばいしょうWrittenWritten: compensation for damage from unlawful acts or breach of contract; 「手当」 is money paid under set headings, not necessarily damage compensation.
- Related小遣いこづかいNeutralNeutral: personal pocket money for daily use, given by family or set aside from income; 「手当」 is paid under set headings and not limited to pay for work.
- Related祝儀しゅうぎNeutralNeutral: a celebration, congratulatory gift or tip, with a festive nuance; 「手当」 can be an allowance or pay without any celebratory sense.
- Related補いおぎないNeutralNeutral: a noun for supplementing or making up what is lacking, used less often; 「手当」 is an allowance or treatment for injury or illness.
- Related報いむくいNeutralNeutral: what one's actions bring back — reward for toil, but also retribution. 「手当」 is an allowance or treatment for injury or illness.
- Related償金しょうきんWrittenWritten and rare: reparation money. In everyday speech 「賠償金」 is used; 「手当」 is an allowance paid under set headings.
- Related弁償べんしょうNeutralNeutral: paying money or goods for damage you caused, typically for breaking or losing something; 「手当」 allowances do not require compensating another's loss.
- RelatedカバーNeutralNeutral loanword: making up for shortfalls or losses, and also covering or spanning. 「手当」 is an allowance or treatment.
- RelatedチップNeutralNeutral: a tip for service staff, given in thanks; 「手当」 is paid under set headings and not limited to reward for service work.
- Related謝金しゃきんWrittenWritten: a thank-you payment, e.g. a lecturer's fee, carrying a sense of gratitude; 「手当」 is mostly allowances paid under set headings or pay.
- Related填補てんぽWrittenWritten, often in insurance or legal contexts: filling in a loss or shortfall. 「手当」 is an allowance or treatment for injury or illness.
- Related心付けこころづけCasualColloquial: a tip given out of goodwill. 「手当」 is an allowance or pay granted under set headings, not limited to reward for labor.
- Related報償ほうしょうWrittenWritten: recompense or reward, and also compensation for damage. 「手当」 can mean an allowance or pay, and also medical treatment.
- Related弁償金べんしょうきんWrittenWritten: money paid to make good damage caused to others; 「手当」 allowances do not require compensating another person's loss.
- Related補償金ほしょうきんWrittenWritten-leaning: compensation money for damage or loss; 「手当」 is an allowance or pay and does not presuppose a loss.
Use 「手当」 for allowances paid under set headings, pay, and treatment of injury or illness, as in 「残業手当」 and 「応急手当」. For pay for work or services pick 「報酬」; for a tip, 「チップ」; for compensating a loss, 「補償」 (「賠償」 for damage from wrongdoing); for nursing care, 「ケア」. 「対価」 is a written-style consideration, 「謝金」 a thank-you payment, 「小遣い」 pocket money, 「祝儀」 a celebratory gift, 「償い」 atonement, 「代償」 a price paid, and 「カバー」 covering a shortfall.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
