償い（つぐない、tsugunai）
- atonement

The Japanese word 償い, pronounced つぐない (tsugunai), primarily means "repayment," "compensation," "atonement," or "making amends." It refers to the act of rectifying a wrong, mistake, or debt, often involving offering something of value (money, time, effort, etc.) to make up for the harm caused. The concept of 償い often carries a sense of regret and the desire to restore balance. It can be used in both literal and figurative contexts.

⚫︎過ちを償いのため、謝罪した。 Translation: I apologized in order to [compensate] for the mistake. ⚫︎借金を償い終わった。 Translation: I finished [paying off] the debt. ⚫︎罪の償いとして、社会奉仕活動をした。 Translation: As [atonement] for the crime, I did community service.

償い is used in situations where someone has caused harm, made a mistake, or owes something to someone else. It's often used when expressing a desire to make things right or to take responsibility for one's actions. It is a relatively formal word and is suitable for both written and spoken language. You would use it when discussing actions taken to correct a situation, settle a debt, or seek forgiveness. The use of 償いimplies a sense of responsibility and the intent to resolve the situation.

償い is typically written in kanji as 償い. The hiragana reading is つぐない. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana (送りがな - the hiragana attached to the kanji) is い.

⚫︎ 弁償(べんしょう - benshou): Compensation, reimbursement (primarily for financial loss or damage). ⚫︎ 補償(ほしょう - hoshou): Compensation, indemnity (often used in legal or insurance contexts). ⚫︎ 埋め合わせ(うめあわせ - umeawase): Making up for, compensating for (a more casual equivalent). ⚫︎ 謝罪(しゃざい - shazai): Apology, atonement. This often involves an act of 償い.

While there isn't a direct antonym, words that imply avoiding responsibility or refusing to make amends can be considered opposites in concept. ⚫︎ 拒否(きょひ - kyohi): Refusal, rejection. ⚫︎ 無視(むし - mushi): Ignoring, disregarding. ⚫︎ 免れる(まぬがれる - manugareru): To escape, to avoid (responsibility).

彼は自分の過ちを深く反省し、被害者に対して十分な償いをしようと決意した。 ・Translation: He deeply reflected on his mistake and resolved to provide sufficient [compensation] to the victim. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates the use of 償い in the context of making amends for wrongdoing. It emphasizes the sincerity of the person's remorse.

事故を起こしてしまった運転手は、被害者の治療費を償いました。 ・Translation: The driver who caused the accident [compensated] for the victim's medical expenses. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the use of 償い in a legal and practical context, relating to the payment of damages.

The kanji 償 (つぐな-う, tsuguna-u) means "to atone," "to compensate," or "to redeem." The word つぐない derives from the verb つぐなう, which is the base form of the word, meaning “to compensate,” “to atone”, or “to pay”. The origin is closely related to the desire to make things right after causing harm.