1.
returning a favor, repaying kindness
The act of doing something good for someone in return for kindness or help they previously provided.
恩返しがしたい。
I want to repay the favor.
育ててくれた親に恩返しをする。
I repay the kindness of my parents who raised me.
お世話になった先生への恩返しとして、母校で講演を行った。
As a way of repaying my teacher's kindness, I gave a lecture at my alma mater.
USAGE:
Typically used with する (恩返しをする) or as a modifier (恩返しの気持ち). Carries a strong emotional weight — it implies deep gratitude and a sense of moral obligation to reciprocate.
CULTURAL NOTE:
恩返し is a deeply rooted concept in Japanese culture and appears frequently in folk tales. The classic story 鶴の恩返し (The Crane's Return of a Favor) is one of the most well-known examples, where a crane repays a man's kindness by weaving beautiful cloth.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 恩返しをする: to return a favor
- 恩返しの気持ち: feeling of wanting to repay kindness
- 親への恩返し: repaying one's parents
Related Words
Related:
見返り (something in return)