Translation guide
The concept of payment or compensation for work or services. In Japanese, the most common and natural way to express this is 給料 (salary) or 報酬 (compensation), depending on context. Direct translations like 報酬 are more formal and often used in business or legal settings.
The fixed regular payment made by an employer to an employee, typically monthly or hourly.
The most common word for salary or wages. Used for regular employment income.
今月の給料はまだもらっていません。
I haven't received this month's salary yet.
給料が上がった。
My salary went up.
Often used for hourly wages or blue-collar work. More formal than 給料.
最低賃金が引き上げられた。
The minimum wage was raised.
Loanword from English, used in business contexts but less common than 給料.
年俸制のサラリーが一般的だ。
Annual salary systems are common.
Payment for a specific job, task, or service, not necessarily regular employment.
General term for compensation, fee, or reward for services. Used in business, legal, and freelance contexts.
この仕事の報酬はいくらですか？
What is the remuneration for this job?
成功報酬として10%を受け取る。
Receive 10% as a success fee.
Often used for honorariums or token payments, especially for speakers, volunteers, or professionals like doctors.
Slang for talent fee or performance fee, commonly used in entertainment industry.
あの俳優のギャラは高いらしい。
That actor's fee is apparently high.
Allowance or extra pay for specific duties or conditions, such as overtime or hazardous work.
Something given in return for effort or achievement, not necessarily money.
Often used in a moral or karmic sense, can be positive or negative. 'Reward' or 'retribution'.
努力の報いを受ける。
Receive the reward for one's efforts.
Something given in return, often with a nuance of expectation or compensation.
給料 is the standard word for salary from regular employment. 報酬 is broader and includes fees for specific services, often used in contracts. 賃金 is more formal and often refers to hourly wages or laborer pay.
The English word 'remuneration' is formal and somewhat rare. In Japanese, directly using 報酬 in casual conversation may sound stiff. Use 給料 for salary, or rephrase with お金 (money) or 支払い (payment) in everyday contexts.
We will give you an honorarium for the lecture.
Overtime allowance is provided.
見返りを求めずに助ける。
Help without expecting anything in return.