Meaning

Primary

To Compensate For

Alternatives

To Make Up For, To Atone For

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

To make reparations is to compensate for or to make up for something. You're going to atone for your sins.

This word is mainly used when someone is taking responsibility for a mistake, a wrongdoing, or a loss by providing compensation or otherwise making things right.

Reading

つぐなう
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

When you try to compensate for everything you've ever done wrong, you become too good for your own britches. You are too good now (つぐなう).

Context

Context Sentences

過去の過ちを償うことに、疲れちゃったんだよ。

I got so tired of making up for past mistakes.

たとえあなたが死をもって罪を償っても、問題は解決しないでしょう。

Even if you atoned for your sins with your own death, it wouldn’t solve the problem.

愛情不足は現金や商品券で償えるものではありません。

A lack of love can’t be compensated for with cash or gift certificates.

Kanji Composition