褒美|ほうびhoubi[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounreward; prize
   この動物どうぶつは単たんにほうびが欲ほしいから、活動かつどうしているのにすぎないのだ。↗

   This animal is just working for rewards.

• Synonym褒賞ほうしょうWrittenWritten/formal: commendation for outstanding deeds or works, with prizes like 「褒賞金」. 「褒美」 is more colloquial, used for rewarding children or treating yourself.
• Synonym報酬ほうしゅうNeutralNeutral: payment due for work or services rendered — compensation in nature. 「褒美」 is a reward for outstanding performance and carries a note of praise.
• Synonym報いむくいNeutralNeutral: what one's actions bring back, good or bad, often retribution. 「褒美」 covers only the positive side — a reward.
• Synonym恩賞おんしょうWrittenWritten and historical: a lord's reward to those who rendered him merit or service. 「褒美」 is more general and still used in everyday modern speech.
• Synonym報奨ほうしょうWrittenWritten: money offered to encourage a certain action, as in 「報奨金」 or 「報奨制度」; typical of companies and public offices. 「褒美」 carries a warmer, more personal feel.
• Related懸賞けんしょうNeutralNeutral: prizes or money announced in advance for correct answers or useful clues, as in 「懸賞金」. 「褒美」 rewards good performance after the fact.
• Antonym罰ばつNeutralNeutral antonym: punishment for a fault or wrongdoing, the flip side of the reward that 「褒美」 denotes.
• Antonym叱責しっせきWrittenWritten/formal antonym: a stern reprimand, standing opposite the praise implied by 「褒美」.

Use 「褒美」 to reward a child, yourself, or a subordinate. For formal commendation pick 「褒賞」, for institutional cash incentives 「報奨」, for pay for work 「報酬」, and for prize contests 「懸賞」.

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

1. 褒ほめること。
2. 奨励しょうれいのために与あたえる金品きんぴん。褒賞ほうしょう。