bou2 soeng4補償补偿

Jyutpingbou2 soeng4

Yalebóu sèuhng

名詞Common

Definition

Compensation; something given to make up for a loss or to reduce its impact.

neutralmoneywork

How it's used

Focuses on the act of balancing out a negative experience or loss rather than just a simple payment. While it functions as a noun, it often appears in contexts involving legal or professional settlements where one party acknowledges a fault or a disadvantage caused to another. It carries a slightly more formal weight compared to plain words like 賠錢.

Measure word

bat1筆bāt

Examples

gung1公si1司bei3畀zo2咗jat1一bat1筆bou2補soeng4償ngo5我，dong1當hai6係pui4賠soeng4償syun2損sat1失。

The company gave me a sum of compensation to cover the losses.

nei5你gok3覺dak1得le1呢bat1筆bou2補soeng4償gau3夠m4唔gau3夠nei4彌bou2補nei5你ge3嘅syun2損sat1失aa4呀？

Do you think this compensation is enough to make up for your loss?

Common phrases

jiu1要kau4求bou2補soeng4償

to demand compensation

wok6獲dak1得bou2補soeng4償

to receive compensation

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 賠償, which specifically implies paying for damages or losses due to liability or wrongdoing. 補償 is broader and can refer to any form of balancing out a loss, even if no one is strictly at fault.