弁償（べんしょう、benshou）
- reimbursement

The Japanese word 弁償 (べんしょう - benshou) means to compensate for damage or loss. It refers to the act of making amends for something you have broken, damaged, or caused to be lost, usually by paying money or providing something of equal value. It implies responsibility for one's actions and the obligation to rectify the consequences. It’s about taking responsibility and making things right.

⚫︎壊れた窓を弁償しなければなりません。 Translation: I have to compensate for the broken window. ⚫︎事故で車の修理代を弁償することになりました。 Translation: I had to compensate for the car repair costs due to the accident. ⚫︎彼の過失で会社の損失を弁償することになった。 Translation: He had to compensate for the company's losses due to his negligence.

You use 弁償 when someone is responsible for damage, loss, or injury, and needs to make amends. It's used in formal and informal situations, but often carries a degree of seriousness. You can use it in conversations about accidents, broken items, or financial losses caused by someone's actions. It implies that the person acknowledges their fault and is willing to pay for the damage.

弁償 is primarily written using kanji and hiragana. ・Kanji: 弁償 ・Hiragana: べんしょう There is only one standard way to write this word. The okurigana is fixed.

⚫︎ 賠償 (ばいしょう - baishou): To compensate for damages, usually in a more formal legal context. ⚫︎ 補償 (ほしょう - hoshou): To compensate or indemnify, often related to insurance or guarantees. ⚫︎ 償う (つぐなう - tsugunau): The verb form of 弁償 and implies the act of compensating or making amends.

There aren't direct antonyms in the same sense. However, actions that prevent or avoid the need for 弁償 could be considered opposites: ⚫︎ 保護 (ほご - hogo): protection ⚫︎ 回避 (かいひ - kaihi): avoidance

子供が遊んでいて、隣の家の窓を割ってしまったので、弁償することになりました。 ・Translation: Since the child was playing and broke the window of the neighbor's house, we had to compensate. ・Explanation: This example demonstrates a situation where someone is responsible for the damage caused by a child and needs to make amends.

万が一、何かを壊してしまった場合は、きちんと弁償します。 ・Translation: In the event that I break something, I will properly compensate for it. ・Explanation: This shows a willingness to take responsibility and make amends if damage occurs.

The word 弁償 is composed of two kanji: ・弁 (ben): meaning "to distinguish, to clarify, to plead" - In this context, it implies clarifying or addressing the situation. ・償 (shou): meaning "to pay, to compensate, to atone" - This signifies the action of making amends. Together, 弁償 means to clarify and compensate for something.