1.
worth; effect; reward; avail
The value or result gained from an action or effort. Often used in set phrases to express whether something was worthwhile or had the desired effect.
努力した甲斐があった。
The effort was worth it.
練習の甲斐あって、試合に勝った。
Thanks to all the practice, we won the match.
治療の甲斐なく、患者は亡くなった。
Despite treatment, the patient passed away.
GRAMMAR:
甲斐 typically appears in two key patterns:
- ～した甲斐がある / あった — it was worth doing ~
- ～の甲斐なく — despite ~, in vain
- ～甲斐がある — worth doing (as a suffix, voiced to がい)
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 生き甲斐 (いきがい) — purpose in life, reason for living
- やり甲斐 — worth doing, rewarding
- 働き甲斐 — job satisfaction, worth working
NOTE:
When used as a suffix attached to verb stems, the reading changes to がい (voiced): やり甲斐, 生き甲斐.