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Kotomora

酬

repay, reward, retribution

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • シュウ
  • シュ
  • トウ

Kun'yomi

  • むく.いる

Meaning

酬 centers on giving something back in response to what was received: repaying a kindness, rewarding effort, or exacting retribution. The common thread is a reciprocal exchange that balances the scales.

Most common words using 酬

  • 報酬ほうしゅう
    N1

    remuneration; recompense; reward; toll

  • 応酬おうしゅう

    exchange (of words, views, punches, cups, etc.); give-and-take

  • 無報酬むほうしゅう

    unpaid; without pay; gratuitous; voluntary

  • 互酬ごしゅう

    reciprocity

  • 互酬性ごしゅうせい

    reciprocity

  • 信託報酬しんたくほうしゅう

    trust fee; custodian fee

  • 医療報酬いりょうほうしゅう

    medical fee

  • 報酬委員会ほうしゅういいんかい

    compensation committee; remuneration committee

  • 役員報酬やくいんほうしゅう

    officer's compensation or remuneration

  • 役身折酬えきしんせっしゅう

    debt bondage (ritsuryō system); forced labor on failure to pay a debt

  • 成功報酬せいこうほうしゅう

    fee contingent upon success; contingency fee; completion bonus

  • 標準報酬ひょうじゅんほうしゅう

    income category for calculating social insurance payments; renumeration category

  • 特別報酬とくべつほうしゅう

    special reward

  • 献酬けんしゅう

    exchange of sake cups

  • 社会保険診療報酬しゃかいほけんしんりょうほうしゅう

    Social Insurance Medical Fee Payment Fund (abbr)

  • 社会保険診療報酬支払基金しゃかいほけんしんりょうほうしゅうしはらいききん

    Social Insurance Medical Fee Payment Fund

  • 総報酬そうほうしゅう

    gross salary

  • 診療報酬しんりょうほうしゅう

    payment (system) for medical services

  • 貴酬きしゅう

    reply (epistolary)

Explore all words using 酬 →

Study

Etymology

酬 combines 酉 (a wine vessel) with 州, which likely contributes the sound. The idea of repaying or toasting with wine fits the reciprocal meaning.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side is a wine vessel 酉, and the right side 州 looks like a river with islands. Picture offering a cup of wine to someone across the water as a way to repay a favor or reward their help.

Reading mnemonic

For シュウ, imagine a shoe filled with wine as a strange reward: shoe -> シュウ, and you repay the giver with a toast.