補
supplement, supply, make good, offset, compensate, assistant, learner
Readings
On'yomi
- ホ
Kun'yomi
- おぎな.う
Meaning
補 centers on filling a gap or making up for a deficiency: supplementing what is missing, compensating for a lack, or offsetting a shortfall. The senses of assistant and learner extend from the idea of someone who helps fill a role or knowledge gap.
Most common words using 補
20 of 277- 候補こうほN3
candidate; contender; prospect; pick; choice; list
- 補助ほじょN1
assistance; support; help; aid
- 補給ほきゅうN2
supply; supplying; replenishment
- 立候補りっこうほN1
candidacy; standing as a candidate; bidding (to host an event, e.g. the Olympics)
- 補償ほしょうN1
compensation; reparation
- 補正ほせいN1
correction; revision; compensation (e.g. to a pendulum)
- 補佐ほさN1
aid; help; assistance; assistant; counselor; counsellor; adviser; advisor
- 補強ほきょうN1
reinforcement; strengthening
- 補足ほそくN1
supplement; complement
- 補充ほじゅうN1
replenishment; supplementation; supplement; replacement; refilling
- 補完ほかんN1
complementation; supplementation; completion
- 補うおぎなうN2
to supplement; to make up for; to compensate for; to cover (a shortage, loss, etc.); to fill (e.g. a vacancy)
- 補修ほしゅう
repair; mending
- 警部補けいぶほ
assistant inspector
- 補填ほてん
covering (a loss, deficit, etc.); making up (for); compensating (for); supplementation
- 補習ほしゅうN3
supplementary lessons
- 補欠ほけつN1
filling a vacancy; supplementation
- 補聴器ほちょうき
hearing aid
- 補導ほどう
guidance; direction; leading
- 立候補者りっこうほしゃ
candidate (for an election)
Study
Etymology
補 combines 衤 (clothing) with 甫, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of patching or mending cloth. The core notion of supplementing or making good a deficiency extends naturally from repairing garments.
Meaning mnemonic
The clothing radical 衤 suggests fabric, and 甫 looks like a patch being sewn on. Picture mending a torn garment by adding a patch to supplement the missing cloth.
Reading mnemonic
For ホ, imagine a hole in your clothes that needs patching: hole -> ホ, and you supplement the fabric to make it whole again.