Japanese word

代償

Pronunciation

Romajidaishō

Meaning

  • nouncost

Example

自由には大きな代償が伴います。ji yū ni wa ō ki na dai shō ga tomona i ma su

Freedom comes at a great cost.

Illustration for 代償 (cost)

More examples

短期的な利益のために、将来大きな代償を払うこともあります。tan ki teki na ri eki no ta me ni shō rai ō ki na dai shō o hara u ko to mo a ri ma su

You may sometimes pay a great price in the future for short-term gains.

Core concept

Presents the cost of an achievement as the sacrifice or compensation needed to balance what is gained.

Common phrases

  • 代償を払うdai shō o hara u

    pay the price

  • 代償を伴うdai shō o tomona u

    come at a cost

  • 高い代償taka i dai shō

    a high price

Similar words

犠牲gisei: Something valuable that is given up to achieve a purpose or protect something else.
代価daika: The price paid to obtain something, including a nonmonetary loss or sacrifice.
負担futan: A cost, duty, or difficulty that a person or group must bear.

Definition in Japanese

あるものを得る代わりに失うもの、または受けた損失を埋め合わせるために差し出すもの。a ru mo no o e ru ka wa ri ni ushina u mo no ma ta wa u ke ta son shitsu o u me a wa se ru ta me ni sa shi da su mo no

Word origin

代償 (daishō) combines 代 (dai, "substitute") with 償 (shō, "compensate"), expressing what stands in place of or makes up for something in an exchange.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 代償 (daishō) commonly appears in serious discussions of freedom, success, or responsibility, where the cost is often abstract rather than monetary.

Other meanings

  • sacrificenoun
  • compensationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 代償的daishōtekicompensatoryna-adjective

Word lists with this word