Meaning of 补偿
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to compensate
- to make up
How to use 补偿
补偿 is used for making up a loss, whether money, time, or feelings, and it can also be a noun meaning compensation. 公司会补偿你的损失。(Gōngsī huì bǔcháng nǐ de sǔnshī.) The company will compensate you for your loss.
补 (bǔ) means to patch or mend, and 偿 (cháng) means to repay. Picture patching a hole you caused and paying back what was lost, and you have 补偿, to make up for something.
Common mistake: Learners often read 偿 as shǎng because it contains 尝 (cháng) and looks like 赏 (shǎng), but it is cháng. Also, 补偿 is not the same as 补充 (bǔchōng), which means to add more or supplement, not to make up for a loss.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
补 bǔ · to repair · 7 strokes
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- 2
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- 7
偿 cháng · to repay · 11 strokes
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- 2
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- 4
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- 11
Related words
Words that share a character with 补偿.
| 补充 | bǔchōng | to replenish; to supplement |
| 赔偿 | péicháng | to compensate |
| 补贴 | bǔtiē | to subsidize; subsidy |
| 补习 | bǔxí | to take extra lessons in a cram school or with a private tutor |
| 补助 | bǔzhù | to subsidize; subsidy |
| 补课 | bǔkè | to make up missed lesson; to reschedule a class |
| 补考 | bǔkǎo | to sit for a makeup exam; to resit an exam |
| 弥补 | míbǔ | to complement; to make up for a deficiency |
| 补给 | bǔjǐ | supply; replenishment |
| 偿还 | chánghuán | to repay; to reimburse |
| 填补 | tiánbǔ | to fill a gap; to fill in a blank (on a form) |
| 修补 | xiūbǔ | to mend |
Questions about 补偿
What does 补偿 mean?
补偿 (bǔcháng) means "to compensate; to make up" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 补偿?
补偿 is made of 2 characters: 补 (7 strokes), 偿 (11 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 补偿 an HSK word?
Yes. 补偿 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 补偿 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 补偿 is written 補償.
What is the difference between 补偿 and 赔偿?
赔偿 (péicháng) usually means paying for damage you are responsible for, often in legal or insurance contexts. 补偿 is broader and softer. It can mean making up for any loss, including emotional ones, even when no one is at fault.
Can 补偿 be used for feelings or relationships?
Yes. You can say 我想补偿你 (wǒ xiǎng bǔcháng nǐ), I want to make it up to you. It works for lost time, missed care, or disappointment, not only money.