賠償

• Reading: ばいしょう
• Romaji: baishou
• Kanji breakdown: 賠 (bai) — compensate, indemnify; 償 (shou) — repay, compensate, atone
• Pronunciation: /bai.ɕoː/

Meaning

Compensation; reparations; indemnity; damages. Payment made for loss or damage, especially in legal or international contexts.

A noun and suru-verb for compensation paid for loss or damage, often in legal or international contexts. Key collocations include 損害賠償 (songai baishou, damages/compensation for loss), 賠償金 (baishoukin, reparation money), and 戦争賠償 (sensou baishou, war reparations).

Examples

1. 裁判所は企業に対して賠償を命じた。 The court ordered the company to pay compensation.
2. 事故の賠償金額は数億円に上った。 The damages from the accident amounted to hundreds of millions of yen.
3. 戦争の賠償問題が今も解決していない。 The issue of war reparations remains unresolved to this day.

Usage Guide

Context: law, international relations, insurance

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 賠 (bai, compensate/indemnify) + 償 (shou, repay/compensate). Both characters emphasise the idea of making up for loss or damage through payment.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal