補(おぎな)う

おぎなう
godan verb
to compensate for; to supplement; to make up for
1. to compensate for; to make up for
To offset or counterbalance a deficiency or loss.
経験(けいけん)の不足(ふそく)を努力(どりょく)で補(おぎな)った。
I made up for my lack of experience with hard work.
お互(たが)いの欠点(けってん)を補(おぎな)い合(あ)う関係(かんけい)。
A relationship where we compensate for each other's weaknesses.
保険(ほけん)で損失(そんしつ)を補(おぎな)った。
The loss was compensated for by insurance.
2. to supplement; to replenish
To add what is lacking or needed.
野菜(やさい)で栄養(えいよう)を補(おぎな)う。
To supplement nutrition with vegetables.
水分(すいぶん)を補(おぎな)うために水(みず)をたくさん飲(の)んだ。
I drank a lot of water to replenish my fluids.
人手(ひとで)が足(た)りないので、アルバイトで補(おぎな)う。
We are short-staffed, so we will supplement with part-time workers.

補(おぎな)う is transitive (他動詞(たどうし)). It takes を for what is being supplemented or made up for.

ASPECT ({ている}):
補(おぎな)っている indicates ongoing compensation or supplementation.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 栄養(えいよう)を補(おぎな)う (to supplement nutrition)
  • 不足(ふそく)を補(おぎな)う (to make up for a shortage)
  • 欠点(けってん)を補(おぎな)う (to compensate for weaknesses)
  • 補(おぎな)い合(あ)う (to complement each other)

PARTICLE PATTERNS:

  • ～を補(おぎな)う: What is being supplemented/compensated
  • ～で補(おぎな)う: What is used to compensate

RELATED WORDS:

  • 補足(ほそく): Supplement, addition
  • 補充(ほじゅう): Replenishment
  • 補償(ほしょう): Compensation (financial)

Related Words

Related: 補償(ほしょう) (compensation (noun))
general
Added 2026.1.13 15:25 · Revised 2026.2.19 23:52
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