Translation guide
The English word 'reparation' covers compensation for harm, war reparations, and making amends. In Japanese, different terms are used depending on the context: legal/financial compensation, historical war reparations, or personal/moral amends.
To express payment or compensation for damage, injury, or loss, typically in a legal or formal context.
The standard term for legal or financial compensation for damages. Used in contexts like insurance, accidents, and lawsuits.
Pay compensation to the victim.
The company was sued for damages.
Compensation for loss or damage, often used in contexts like insurance, public works, or government redress. Slightly broader than 賠償, can include non-monetary compensation.
The government provided compensation to the disaster victims.
Reimbursement or compensation for a specific loss, often used in everyday situations like paying for something you broke.
Pay for the broken window.
To refer to payments or compensation made by a defeated nation after a war.
To express the act of making up for a wrong or injury, often in a personal or moral sense.
These three terms all mean compensation but differ in nuance: - 賠償 (baishō): Legal compensation for damages caused by one's fault (tort). Often involves court orders. - 補償 (hoshō): Compensation for loss or damage, not necessarily due to fault. Used for public projects, eminent domain, or insurance. - 弁償 (benshō): Reimbursement for a specific loss, often in everyday contexts (e.g., paying for something you broke). More casual than the others.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all meanings of 'reparation'. Always choose the term based on context: legal compensation (賠償), war reparations (戦争賠償), or personal amends (償い). Using the wrong term can sound unnatural or confusing.
The reparation payments were completed.
彼は贖罪の気持ちから寄付をした。
He made a donation out of a sense of atonement.