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.
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'.
いつか恩返しをしたい。
I want to pay back your kindness someday.
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.
彼に仕返しをしてやる。
I'll pay him back (for what he did).
仕返しはしないほうがいい。
It's better not to seek revenge.
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.
友達に1000円返した。
I paid back 1000 yen to my friend.
住宅ローンを返済中です。
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.
I'll pay back the money I borrowed.
明日までに返すよ。
I'll pay you back by tomorrow.
A more formal term for repayment, often used for loans, debts, or in business contexts.
ローンを返済する。
To pay back a loan.
借金の返済が大変だ。
Paying back the debt is tough.
Specifically means to refund or pay back money that was overpaid or deposited, like a deposit or overcharge.
保証金を払い戻す。
To refund the deposit.
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.
この借りは必ず返す。
I'll definitely pay back this favor.
To repay, reward, or reciprocate, often used in a more abstract or literary sense. Can be positive or negative.
苦労が報われた。
My efforts were rewarded (paid back).
A stronger, more dramatic word for revenge, often used in stories or serious contexts.
彼は家族の敵に復讐した。
He took revenge on his family's enemy.
The phrase 'an eye for an eye', implying retaliation. Often used as a set phrase.
目には目を、歯には歯を。
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
仕返しをする (○) / 返す (×)
to get revenge (correct) / incorrect usage
仕返しをする (○) / 返す (×)
to get revenge (correct) / incorrect usage