1.
to pay a price (for something); to pay compensation; to give something in return
Collocation meaning to hand over money or another form of value in exchange for a good, service, or benefit. Often used in the literal, commercial sense, but also figuratively for "paying a price" in effort, sacrifice, or consequences.
Composed of 対価 (consideration, price paid in return) and 払う (to pay). The noun 対価 refers specifically to something given in return for something received — payment in the economic sense, or more abstractly the "price" paid in sacrifice or consequence.
Usage
- Literal, commercial sense: paying money for goods, services, or labor
- Figurative sense: giving up something valuable (time, freedom, health) as the cost of something gained
- Formal and somewhat abstract; in casual contexts, お金を払う is far more common for literal payments
Register: Formal/written; common in business, legal, ethical, and essayistic contexts.
Common collocations
- 正当な対価を払う: to pay a fair price/compensation
- 適切な対価を払う: to pay appropriate compensation
- 大きな対価を払う: to pay a great price (often figurative)
- 対価として受け取る: to receive as compensation
Similar words
- 代金を払う: to pay the price (of goods) — more concrete and commercial
- 料金を払う: to pay a fee — for services, utilities, admission
- 報酬を払う: to pay a reward/compensation — for labor, especially professional
- 代償を払う: to pay a price (usually figurative, often negative) — emphasizes sacrifice or consequence more than 対価を払う