恩返し
의미: Repaying a favour; returning kindness to someone who helped you — a fundamental moral duty in Japanese culture.
恩返し is the natural resolution of 恩 — the act of repaying the debt of gratitude. It is a beloved theme in Japanese folklore (鶴の恩返し, the crane's return of a favour) and remains a powerful motivator in modern life. Career choices, volunteer work, and acts of generosity are often framed as 恩返し to parents, teachers, or communities.
예문
- ここまで育ててくれた親への恩返しがしたい。 我想报答把我养大成人的父母。Quiero corresponder a mis padres por haberme criado.여기까지 키워주신 부모님께 은혜를 갚고 싶어.
- 地元への恩返しとして、故郷にカフェを開いた。 为了回馈故乡，他在家乡开了一家咖啡馆。Como forma de devolver algo a mi tierra, abrí una cafetería en mi pueblo.고향에 대한 보은으로 고향에 카페를 열었어.
- 鶴の恩返しの話、小さい頃よく聞いたな。 《仙鹤报恩》的故事，小时候常常听到。De pequeño me contaban mucho la historia de la grulla que devolvió el favor.학의 은혜 갚기 이야기, 어릴 때 자주 들었지.
발음
/oɴ.ɡa.e.ɕi/
사용 가이드
맥락: gratitude, life goals, community service, family, folklore
어조: grateful, dutiful, warm
✓ 올바른 표현
- 少しでも恩返しできたら嬉しい (I'd be happy if I could repay even a little of the kindness)哪怕能回报一点点恩情我也很开心（I'd be happy if I could repay even a little of the kindness）Me haría feliz poder devolver aunque sea un poco de la bondad recibida.조금이라도 은혜를 갚을 수 있으면 기쁘겠어 (I'd be happy if I could repay even a little of the kindness)
- 社会への恩返しとしてボランティアを始めた (I started volunteering as a way to give back to society)作为对社会的回馈，我开始做志愿者了（I started volunteering as a way to give back to society）Empecé a hacer voluntariado como forma de devolver algo a la sociedad.사회에 대한 보은으로 봉사활동을 시작했어 (I started volunteering as a way to give back to society)
✗ 잘못된 표현
- 恩返しを強要するのは本末転倒 (Demanding someone repay a favour defeats the purpose of kindness)强迫别人报恩，那就本末倒置了（Demanding someone repay a favour defeats the purpose of kindness）Exigir que alguien te devuelva un favor contradice el propio sentido de la bondad.은혜 갚기를 강요하는 것은 본말전도이다 (Demanding someone repay a favour defeats the purpose of kindness)
흔한 실수
- Thinking 恩返し is only about repaying the specific person — it can also mean paying it forward to the next generation or community
- Not recognising 恩返し as a common life motivation in Japanese culture — many career and life choices are framed this way
기원과 역사
From 恩 (favour/grace) + 返し (returning). A core theme in Japanese folklore — the most famous example being 鶴の恩返し (The Grateful Crane), where a crane repays the kindness of a human who saved it.
문화적 배경
Era: Classical folklore and Confucian ethics, still strongly felt
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. A deeply ingrained cultural value, frequently cited as motivation for life decisions and community service.
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