償 (cháng) - To repay & to compensate

償Tone 2

cháng ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

嫦晨

償 · cháng

To repay;

to compensate;

to fulfill (an obligation);

to make amends.

To repayto compensateto fulfill (an obligation)

Usage highlights

To repay a debtTo compensate for a lossTo get one's wish fulfilledTo pay a priceTo make amendsTo redeem a vow

Synonyms

  • 还— to return; to repay
  • 赔— to compensate; to pay for
  • 补— to make up for; to supplement

Antonyms

  • 欠— to owe; to be deficient
  • 借— to borrow

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He repaid the debt in full (偿还债务).
  • We must compensate for the loss (赔偿损失).
  • She fulfilled her promise (偿了心愿).
  • This is to make amends for past mistakes (补偿过去的错误).

Collocations

  • To repay a debt(偿还债务)
  • To compensate for a loss(赔偿损失)
  • To get one's wish fulfilled(得偿所愿)
  • To pay a price(付出代价)
  • To make amends(补偿)
  • To redeem a vow(偿愿)

Idioms

  • To get what one wishes for(如愿以偿)
  • An eye for an eye(杀人偿命)
  • A debt of blood must be paid in blood(血债血偿)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character reflects a deep-seated cultural value of reciprocity and fulfilling obligations.
  • It is often used in legal and moral contexts concerning debt, justice, and recompense.
  • The concept of 'repayment' extends beyond finance to emotional and moral debts.

FAQ