償つぐない

つ

ぐ

な

い

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

compensation; reparation; atonement

Refers to making amends for a wrong, loss, or sin, often through payment, service, or suffering. Can be used in legal, moral, and personal contexts.

彼かれは罪つみの償

つぐな

い

と

し

て

社しゃ

会かい

奉ほう

仕し

を

し

た

。

He did community service as atonement for his crime.

被ひ害がい者しゃへの償つぐないの気き持もちを忘わすれてはいけない。

You must not forget the feeling of wanting to make amends to the victim.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉の償つぐないをするto make reparation/atone for something
彼かれは罪つみの償つぐないをするために被ひ害がい者しゃの家か族ぞくに会あいに行いった。
He went to meet the victim's family in order to atone for his crime.
償つぐないとして〈物もの〉を渡わたすto give something as compensation
会かい社しゃは事じ故この償つぐないとして遺い族ぞくに見み舞まい金きんを渡わたした。
The company gave the bereaved family a condolence payment as compensation for the accident.

Kanji

償reparation, make up for, recompense

Related words

賠ばい償しょうN1
賠償 is a formal, legal term for monetary compensation for damages, while 償い is broader and can also mean moral or emotional atonement.
補ほ償しょうN1
補償 emphasizes making up for a financial loss or deficiency, whereas 償い carries a stronger sense of atoning for a wrongdoing.
罪つみ滅ほろぼし
罪滅ぼし is a more personal, everyday word for atoning for one's own sin or misdeed, while 償い is broader and can also cover formal or legal reparation.

Don't confuse with

詫わびN1
詫び is simply an apology in words, while 償い involves an actual act, payment, or sacrifice made to make up for the wrong.

Written forms

償つぐないUsage71%
Standard kanji spelling; the reading つぐない is the only one given.
つぐないUsage29%

Etymology

The noun form of the verb 償う (つぐなう), meaning to compensate or atone. The kanji 償 combines 亻 (person) and 賞 (prize, reward), suggesting a person making restitution.