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.
罪の償いをする。
To atone for one's sins.
どんな償いをしても足りない。
No amount of reparation would be enough.
彼は長年にわたって被害者への償いを続けてきた。
He has continued making reparations to the victims for many years.
The noun form of 償う (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:
- 罪の償い: atonement for sin/crime
- 償いをする: to make amends
- 償いを求める: to seek reparation
- 命をもって償う: to pay with one's life
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 賠償: compensation, indemnity — formal/legal term for financial compensation, often in lawsuits or international disputes
- 弁償: reimbursement — paying for something broken or lost, more everyday and practical
- 補償: compensation — making up for loss or damage, often from institutions or insurance
- 贖罪: redemption, expiation — more literary and religious in tone
CULTURAL NOTE:
The concept of 償い is central to Japanese narratives about crime and punishment. In legal contexts, showing sincere 償い (such as paying condolence money to victims' families) can influence sentencing.