報う · godan verb (-u)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 報う | 報わない |
| Polite | 報います | 報いません |
| Past polite | 報いました | 報いませんでした |
| Past | 報った | 報わなかった |
| Te-form | 報って | 報わないで |
| Desire | 報いたい | 報いたくない |
| Potential | 報える | 報えない |
| Passive | 報われる | 報われない |
| Causative | 報わせる | 報わせない |
| Causative passive | 報わせられるalso 報わされる | 報わせられないalso 報わされない |
| Volitional | 報おう | |
| Polite volitional | 報いましょう | |
| Imperative | 報え | 報うな |
| Conditional | 報えば | 報わなければ |
| Tara conditional | 報ったら | 報わなかったら |
Used for giving something in return for a good deed, effort, or kindness. Often implies a positive return.
See also: 報いる
I want to do something to repay his kindness.
My efforts were rewarded and I passed the exam.
Used for returning harm or an injury, often in a negative context. Less common than the positive sense.
He sued the other party to retaliate for the insult.
He worked hard to repay the kindness he had received.