償(つぐな)い

つぐない

noun

atonement; reparation; compensation

1. atonement; reparation; compensation

The act of making amends for wrongdoing, harm, or loss. Implies a moral or emotional obligation to repay what was damaged or lost.

罪(つみ)の償(つぐな)いをする。

To atone for one's sins.

どんな償(つぐな)いをしても足(た)りない。

No amount of reparation would be enough.

彼(かれ)は長年(ながねん)にわたって被害者(ひがいしゃ)への償(つぐな)いを続(つづ)けてきた。

He has continued making reparations to the victims for many years.

The noun form of 償(つぐな)う (to compensate, to make amends). Carries a strong moral and emotional weight — it implies a deep sense of responsibility for harm done, going beyond simple financial compensation.

Common collocations

罪(つみ)の償(つぐな)い: atonement for sin/crime
償(つぐな)いをする: to make amends
償(つぐな)いを求(もと)める: to seek reparation
命(いのち)をもって償(つぐな)う: to pay with one's life

Similar words

賠償(ばいしょう): compensation, indemnity — formal/legal term for financial compensation, often in lawsuits or international disputes
弁償(べんしょう): reimbursement — paying for something broken or lost, more everyday and practical
補償(ほしょう): compensation — making up for loss or damage, often from institutions or insurance
贖罪(しょくざい): redemption, expiation — more literary and religious in tone

Cultural note

The concept of 償(つぐな)い is central to Japanese narratives about crime and punishment. In legal contexts, showing sincere 償(つぐな)い (such as paying condolence money to victims' families) can influence sentencing.

Related Words

Compare: 賠償(ばいしょう) (compensation, indemnity)

Compare: 弁償(べんしょう) (reimbursement)

Compare: 補償(ほしょう) (compensation)

Compare: 贖罪(しょくざい) (redemption, expiation)

general

Added 2026.5.6 0:06 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

26500/26888_tsugunai