A1 noun Formal #2,530 most common

報酬

hōshū /hoːɕɯː/

A payment or reward given in exchange for work, services, or an achievement. It often refers to professional fees or remuneration, but can also describe an abstract reward for one's efforts.

Examples

3 of 5
1

お手伝いの報酬にお菓子をもらった。

I received sweets as a reward for helping out.

2

調査の報酬として、謝礼金をお支払いします。

We will pay an honorarium as remuneration for the investigation.

3

報酬はピザでいい?

Is pizza okay as a reward?

Word Family

Noun
報酬
Verb
報いる
Related
報奨
💡

Memory Tip

Think of the first kanji 'Hō' (報) which means 'to report' or 'repay', and 'Shū' (酬) which means 'recompense'. You get 'Hōshū' when your work 'report' is finished!

Quick Quiz

彼は素晴らしい仕事をしたので、高い___を受け取った。

Correct!

The correct answer is: 報酬

Examples

1

お手伝いの報酬にお菓子をもらった。

everyday

I received sweets as a reward for helping out.

2

調査の報酬として、謝礼金をお支払いします。

formal

We will pay an honorarium as remuneration for the investigation.

3

報酬はピザでいい?

informal

Is pizza okay as a reward?

4

心理学的実験において、金銭的報酬は動機づけに影響する。

academic

In psychological experiments, monetary rewards influence motivation.

5

コンサルティング業務の報酬について相談したい。

business

I would like to discuss the fees for the consulting services.

Word Family

Noun
報酬
Verb
報いる
Related
報奨

Common Collocations

報酬を得る to receive a reward/fee
報酬を支払う to pay a reward/fee
多額の報酬 a large reward/high fee
正当な報酬 fair compensation
成功報酬 contingency fee / success-based reward

Common Phrases

労働の報酬

reward for labor

期待通りの報酬

reward as expected

成功報酬制

success fee system

Often Confused With

報酬 vs 給料

Kyūryō refers specifically to a monthly salary from an employer, while hōshū is broader, covering one-time fees for professional tasks.

報酬 vs お礼

Orei is a general token of gratitude (gift or money), whereas hōshū implies a contractual or expected payment for a service.

📝

Usage Notes

It is commonly used in business contracts to define the 'fee' for professional services like those of a lawyer or freelancer. It can also be used for psychological or biological 'rewards' (like dopamine).

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 'kyūryō' when they are actually talking about a freelance fee; for independent professional work, 'hōshū' is the more appropriate term.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the first kanji 'Hō' (報) which means 'to report' or 'repay', and 'Shū' (酬) which means 'recompense'. You get 'Hōshū' when your work 'report' is finished!

📖

Word Origin

Derived from Sino-Japanese roots where '報' (hō) means to requite or repay, and '酬' (shū) means to return a toast or compensate.

Grammar Patterns

Used as a noun followed by particles (を, が, に). Often appears in the compound ~の報酬 (reward of ~).
🌍

Cultural Context

In Japanese business culture, discussing 'hōshū' (fees) upfront is becoming more common, though traditionally it was sometimes considered polite to wait for the client to offer an 'orei' (honorarium) first.

Quick Quiz

彼は素晴らしい仕事をしたので、高い___を受け取った。

Correct!

The correct answer is: 報酬

Related Words

発着

A1

Refers to the act of departing and arriving, specifically used for vehicles like trains, buses, and airplanes at a specific terminal or station. It combines the kanji for 'start/emit' (発) and 'arrive/wear' (着) to describe the full cycle of transport movement.

下車

A1

The act of getting off or alighting from a vehicle such as a train, bus, or car. It is a formal Sino-Japanese compound used in announcements and written signs, whereas 'oriru' is used in daily speech.

航空券

A1

An airline ticket or electronic document issued by an airline or travel agency that entitles the bearer to a seat on a flight. It serves as proof of purchase and is required to receive a boarding pass at the airport.

芸術

A1

Art refers to the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. It encompasses a wide range of human activities and products, including music, literature, and performance.

美術

A1

Bijutsu refers specifically to the fine arts, particularly visual arts such as painting, sculpture, and calligraphy. It is the standard term used to describe art as a school subject or the collection of works found in a gallery.

絵画

A1

Kaiga refers to a painting or a pictorial work of art. It is a formal term often used to describe works found in museums or galleries, as opposed to casual sketches or photographs.

彫刻

A1

A three-dimensional work of art created by shaping or combining materials such as stone, wood, metal, or clay. It refers both to the finished object (a sculpture) and the artistic process of carving or modeling.

工芸

A1

Kōgei refers to the art of creating functional and decorative objects through skilled manual labor and craftsmanship. It typically bridges the gap between fine art and practical utility, often involving materials like wood, clay, lacquer, or metal.

陶芸

A1

The art or craft of making pottery and ceramics by shaping clay and firing it at high temperatures. It encompasses both the creative process and the resulting artistic pieces used in daily life or exhibitions.

書道

A1

The Japanese art of calligraphy, often performed with a brush and ink. It is considered a path to spiritual refinement and artistic expression through the stylized writing of characters.

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