Translation guide
How to express 'pay back' in Japanese, covering returning money, repaying favors, and getting revenge.
To give back money that was borrowed or owed.
The most common and general verb for returning something, including money. Used in everyday conversation.
I'll pay back the money I borrowed.
I'll pay you back by tomorrow.
A more formal term for repayment, often used for loans, debts, or in business contexts.
To pay back a loan.
Paying back the debt is tough.
Specifically means to refund or pay back money that was overpaid or deposited, like a deposit or overcharge.
To refund the deposit.
To return a favor, do something in return for someone's help or kindness.
The standard expression for repaying a favor or kindness. Literally 'to do a return of favor'.
I want to pay back your kindness someday.
I'm thinking of a way to pay back his help.
Literally 'return a borrowing', used for both tangible and intangible debts, including favors. Slightly more casual than 恩返し.
To repay, reward, or reciprocate, often used in a more abstract or literary sense. Can be positive or negative.
To retaliate or get even for a wrong or harm.
The most common way to say 'get revenge' or 'pay someone back' for a wrong. Used in everyday language.
I'll pay him back (for what he did).
It's better not to seek revenge.
A stronger, more dramatic word for revenge, often used in stories or serious contexts.
The phrase 'an eye for an eye', implying retaliation. Often used as a set phrase.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
返す is the general verb for returning things or money, used in daily conversation. 返済する is specifically for repaying debts or loans and sounds more formal. Use 返す for casual talk, 返済する for official or financial contexts.
I paid back 1000 yen to my friend.
I'm in the process of paying back my mortgage.
While 返す can mean 'return', it does not mean 'revenge'. For revenge, use 仕返しをする or 復讐する. Saying 返す in that context would be confusing.
to get revenge (correct) / incorrect usage
I'll definitely pay back this favor.
苦労が報われた。
My efforts were rewarded (paid back).
He took revenge on his family's enemy.