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道Nihongo Path
償

償·atone, compensate

On-yomi
ショウ
Kun-yomi
つぐな(う)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

17 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
弁償べんしょうreimbursement, making good
償うつぐなうto atone for, compensate
無償むしょうfree of charge
代償だいしょうprice, cost paid

Example sentences

  1. 割った窓は弁償します。

    わったまどはべんしょうします。

    I will pay for the window I broke.

  2. 彼は罪を償うために働き続けた。

    かれはつみをつぐなうためにはたらきつづけた。

    He kept working in order to atone for his crime.

  3. その成功には大きな代償が伴った。

    そのせいこうにはおおきなだいしょうがともなった。

    That success came at a great price.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 償う as しょうう — the kun reading is つぐなう
  • Confusing 無償 (むしょう, free of charge) with 無性 (むしょう, uncontrollably)

Memory aid

Picture it

A person 亻 next to 賞 'reward' — giving back a reward's worth to make up for what was lost.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 償 mean?