péicháng: 赔偿 - To Compensate, Pay for Damages, Reparations

• Keywords: peichang, péicháng, 赔偿, compensate in Chinese, pay for damages Chinese, reparations Chinese, indemnity in Chinese, Chinese law compensation, Chinese legal terms, HSK 5 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 赔偿 (péicháng), which means to compensate, pay for damages, or provide reparations. This page breaks down the characters 赔 and 偿, explores the cultural significance of taking responsibility in China, and provides dozens of practical examples. Understand the crucial difference between 赔偿 (for wrongful acts) and 补偿 (for making up a deficit), a common point of confusion for learners. This is an essential term for understanding legal, business, and serious social situations in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): péicháng
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To compensate for a loss, injury, or damage caused by a wrongful act; or, the compensation/reparations itself.
• In a Nutshell: 赔偿 (péicháng) is a formal and serious term. It's not for trivial matters like spilling coffee on someone. Think of it as the official act of “making things right” when you are at fault. It carries a heavy weight of legal or moral obligation to restore what was lost, whether it's money, property, or even health. It's the language of insurance claims, legal settlements, and serious apologies backed by action.

• 赔 (péi): This character means “to compensate” or “to stand a loss.”
  • The radical 贝 (bèi) originally meant “cowrie shell” and is now the radical for money and valuables.
  • The right side 咅 (pǒu) primarily provides the phonetic sound.
  • Together, it strongly implies compensating with money or things of value.
• 偿 (cháng): This character means “to repay,” “to make good,” or “to satisfy.”
  • The radical 亻(rén) means “person.”
  • The right side 尝 (cháng) provides the phonetic sound.
  • Together, it suggests a person fulfilling an obligation or repaying a debt.

When combined, 赔偿 (péicháng) creates a powerful and formal concept: a person (偿) using money/valuables (赔) to repay a debt incurred from causing a loss.

In Western cultures, particularly in the US, resolving damages often involves a highly structured process through insurance companies and courts, with a focus on legal liability. While China also has this formal system, 赔偿 (péicháng) plays a unique role in social harmony. The concept is deeply tied to 面子 (miànzi - “face”) and 责任 (zérèn - responsibility). When a dispute or accident happens, a direct, often privately negotiated, compensation can be the quickest way to restore harmony and allow both parties to save face. Admitting fault and offering 赔偿 is a powerful act of taking responsibility, which is highly valued. It's not just a financial transaction; it's a social ritual that mends a broken relationship or resolves a conflict. For example, after a minor car accident, the parties might agree on a cash 赔偿 on the spot to avoid the bureaucracy of police reports and insurance claims. This is seen as a practical and efficient way to acknowledge fault, make the other person whole, and move on, thereby preserving social balance.

赔偿 (péicháng) is almost always used in serious or formal contexts. Using it for a minor issue would sound overly dramatic.

• Legal & Insurance: This is its most common domain. Court-ordered payments, insurance payouts, and legal settlements all use 赔偿.
  • “The insurance company will compensate for your losses.” → 保险公司会赔偿你的损失。
• Business Disputes: If a company violates a contract or delivers faulty goods, the other party will demand 赔偿.
  • “Due to the breach of contract, they must pay us compensation.” → 因为违约，他们必须给我们赔偿。
• Serious Accidents: In situations like traffic accidents or medical malpractice, the party at fault is expected to 赔偿 the victim for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
• As a Noun: It can also refer to the money or payment itself.
  • “Have you received the compensation yet?” → 你收到赔偿金了吗？ (Here, 金 (jīn - gold/money) is often added to be more specific.)

The connotation is neutral to negative, as it always arises from a negative event (a loss, an injury, a mistake).

• Example 1: (Car Accident)
  • 肇事司机同意赔偿所有维修费用。
  • Pinyin: Zhàoshì sījī tóngyì péicháng suǒyǒu wéixiū fèiyòng.
  • English: The driver at fault agreed to compensate for all the repair costs.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical use of 赔偿. It's the standard term for financial settlements after an accident.
• Example 2: (Breach of Contract)
  • 如果你提前终止合同，你需要支付一笔赔偿。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ tíqián zhōngzhǐ hétóng, nǐ xūyào zhīfù yī bǐ péicháng.
  • English: If you terminate the contract early, you need to pay a compensation fee.
  • Analysis: Here, 赔偿 is used as a noun, referring to the penalty payment for breaking an agreement.
• Example 3: (Insurance Claim)
  • 保险公司正在处理我们的赔偿要求。
  • Pinyin: Bǎoxiǎn gōngsī zhèngzài chǔlǐ wǒmen de péicháng yāoqiú.
  • English: The insurance company is processing our claim for compensation.
  • Analysis: 赔偿要求 (péicháng yāoqiú) means “a demand/claim for compensation.” This is standard insurance vocabulary.
• Example 4: (Damaged Goods)
  • 航空公司弄丢了我的行李，他们必须赔偿我。
  • Pinyin: Hángkōng gōngsī nòng diūle wǒ de xínglǐ, tāmen bìxū péicháng wǒ.
  • English: The airline lost my luggage; they must compensate me.
  • Analysis: This shows that 赔偿 applies to property loss due to a company's mistake.
• Example 5: (As a Noun - The Amount)
  • 法院判给受害者十万元的赔偿金。
  • Pinyin: Fǎyuàn pàn gěi shòuhàizhě shí wàn yuán de péichángjīn.
  • English: The court awarded the victim 100,000 yuan in compensation.
  • Analysis: 赔偿金 (péichángjīn) is a compound noun meaning “compensation money” or “indemnity.”
• Example 6: (Emotional Distress)
  • 除了医疗费，他还要求精神损失赔偿。
  • Pinyin: Chúle yīliáo fèi, tā hái yāoqiú jīngshén sǔnshī péicháng.
  • English: Besides medical fees, he is also demanding compensation for emotional distress.
  • Analysis: This highlights a more abstract but legally recognized form of compensation: 精神损失赔偿 (jīngshén sǔnshī péicháng).
• Example 7: (Public Apology & Compensation)
  • 这家工厂不仅要公开道歉，还要赔偿受污染影响的居民。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngchǎng bùjǐn yào gōngkāi dàoqiàn, hái yào péicháng shòu wūrǎn yǐngxiǎng de jūmín.
  • English: This factory not only has to apologize publicly but also has to compensate the residents affected by the pollution.
  • Analysis: This links the act of compensation with the act of apologizing, showing it's about both financial and moral accountability.
• Example 8: (Negotiating Compensation)
  • 我们来谈谈赔偿的具体数额吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen lái tántan péicháng de jùtǐ shù'é ba.
  • English: Let's talk about the specific amount of compensation.
  • Analysis: A common phrase used in negotiations after an incident has occurred. 数额 (shù'é) means “amount.”
• Example 9: (Work-related Injury)
  • 公司需要依法赔偿员工的工伤损失。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī xūyào yīfǎ péicháng yuángōng de gōngshāng sǔnshī.
  • English: The company needs to compensate the employee's work-related injury losses in accordance with the law.
  • Analysis: 依法 (yīfǎ) means “according to the law,” emphasizing the legal obligation behind 赔偿.
• Example 10: (Historical Context)
  • 战败国被迫支付巨额的战争赔偿。
  • Pinyin: Zhànbài guó bèi pò zhīfù jù'é de zhànzhēng péicháng.
  • English: The defeated nation was forced to pay enormous war reparations.
  • Analysis: Shows the use of 赔偿 on a massive, international scale. Here, it is translated as “reparations.”

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 赔偿 (péicháng) with 补偿 (bǔcháng).

• 赔偿 (péicháng): Used when there is fault, wrongdoing, or a violation. It implies making amends for a mistake or harmful act. Think “reparations,” “damages.”
  • Example: A drunk driver must 赔偿 the victim. (There is clear fault).
• 补偿 (bǔcháng): Used to make up for a deficit, lack, or loss, often without any implication of fault. It's about filling a gap or making something complete. Think “subsidize,” “make up for.”
  • Example: The company will 补偿 you for your overtime work. (Working overtime isn't a “fault,” but the company is making up for your lost time with extra pay).
  • Example: The government will 补偿 residents whose homes are demolished for a new subway line. (The government isn't “at fault,” but they are compensating for the loss of property).

Incorrect Usage:

• Wrong: 我把你的咖啡弄洒了，我赔偿你一杯。 (Wǒ bǎ nǐ de kāfēi nòng sǎle, wǒ péicháng nǐ yībēi.)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds absurdly formal and legalistic, as if you've committed a crime. 赔偿 is too strong.
• Correct: 我把你的咖啡弄洒了，我再给你买一杯吧。 (Wǒ bǎ nǐ de kāfēi nòng sǎle, wǒ zài gěi nǐ mǎi yībēi ba.) - “I spilled your coffee, let me buy you another one.” This is natural and appropriate.

• 补偿 (bǔcháng) - To compensate or subsidize, typically when there is no fault involved. The most important distinction to learn.
• 索赔 (suǒpéi) - To claim compensation. This is the action of formally asking for 赔偿.
• 罚款 (fákuǎn) - A fine or penalty. This is punitive and paid to an authority (like the police or government), not the victim. 赔偿 is restorative and paid to the victim.
• 损失 (sǔnshī) - Loss, damage. This is the noun for the thing that necessitates 赔偿.
• 责任 (zérèn) - Responsibility, liability. The legal or moral basis for having to pay 赔偿.
• 保险 (bǎoxiǎn) - Insurance. The system or policy that often covers the costs of 赔偿.
• 和解 (héjiě) - To settle (a dispute); reconciliation. A settlement often includes a 赔偿 agreement.
• 违约金 (wéiyuējīn) - A penalty for breach of contract. A specific type of payment that functions like 赔偿.