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.
サービスに対価を払う。
To pay for a service.
労働には正当な対価を払うべきだ。
Fair compensation should be paid for labor.
便利さを手に入れるためには、プライバシーという対価を払っている。
To gain convenience, we are paying the price of privacy.
成功を手に入れた彼も、家族との時間という大きな対価を払ってきたのだ。
Even he, who achieved success, had paid the heavy price of time with his family.
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