罰する|ばっするbassuru[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. suru verb (irregular), transitive verbto punish; to penalize; to penalise
    どうしてあなたは彼かれらを罰ばっしているのですか。↗
    What are you punishing them for?
Conjugation
Dictionary form罰する(ばっする)
Polite (masu)罰します(ばっします)
Negative (nai)罰しない(ばっしない)
polite (masen)罰しません(ばっしません)
classical zu / nu罰せず・罰せぬ(ばっせず・ばっせぬ)
Past (ta)罰した(ばっした)
polite (mashita)罰しました(ばっしました)
Past negative (nakatta)罰しなかった(ばっしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)罰しませんでした(ばっしませんでした)
Te form罰して(ばっして)
Potential罰できる(ばっできる)
Passive罰される(ばっされる)
Causative罰させる(ばっさせる)
Causative passive罰させられる(ばっさせられる)
Conditional (ba)罰すれば(ばっすれば)
tara罰したら(ばっしたら)
Volitional罰しよう(ばっしよう)
polite (mashou)罰しましょう(ばっしましょう)
Imperative罰しろ(ばっしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym処罰しょばつNeutralPunishment imposed under law or rules, as in 「厳しく処罰する」; leans formal and institutional, where 「罰する」 is the plainer verb.
  • Synonym懲罰ちょうばつNeutralPunishment given to discipline someone, as in 「懲罰委員会」; carries a corrective nuance and is typical within organizations.
  • Synonym処するしょするWrittenWritten style. In the pattern 「死刑に処する」 it means sentencing someone to a penalty; it can also mean handling or dealing with matters.
  • Related処分しょぶんNeutralCovers disposal or handling of things as well as disciplinary measures like 「停学処分」; broader than 「罰する」 and not limited to punishment.
  • Related仕置きしおきNeutralPunishment, especially spanking a child, or Edo-period criminal punishment; has an old-fashioned or domestic flavor.
  • Related成敗せいばいWrittenAn archaic word for punishing or judging, best known from 「喧嘩両成敗」; carries a strong historical flavor.
  • Related懲らしめるこらしめるNeutralTo teach someone a lesson so they will not repeat the offense, as in 「悪者を懲らしめる」; common in everyday speech.
  • Related懲らすこらすNeutralMeans the same—punishing a wrongdoer so they will not reoffend—and 「懲らしめる」 derives from it; rare today, where people say 「懲らしめる」.
  • Related膺懲ようちょうWrittenWritten word for chastising or punishing an enemy; very rare in modern use, where 「懲らしめる」 is said instead.
  • Antonym褒めるほめるNeutralTo praise someone; the direct opposite of punishing with 「罰する」.
  • Antonym賞するしょうするWrittenWritten style for praising or admiring; stands opposite to the punishing 「罰する」.

Use 「罰する」 to punish wrongdoing. For punishment under law or rules say 「処罰」; for disciplinary measures like 「停学処分」 say 「処分」; for teaching a lesson say 「懲らしめる」; for sentencing to a penalty say 「処する」. The opposite of punishing is 「褒める」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 〔何なんかに〕罰ばつを与あたえる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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