Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Make" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "make", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
埋め合わせる
うめあわせる (umeawaseru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
儲ける
もうける (moukeru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "make" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 埋め合わせる and 儲ける.
In Japanese, 埋め合わせる (うめあわせる (umeawaseru)) is typically associated with "to make up for; to compensate for; to make amends" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents 損失や不足、過ちなどに対して、何かをして帳消しにする、または等価なものを提供する状況で使う。Used when doing something to cancel out a loss, deficiency, or mistake, or providing something equivalent..
On the other hand, 儲ける (もうける (moukeru)) maps to "to make a profit, to earn (money), to gain (transitive)" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents This is the transitive counterpart of 儲かる. It means 'to make a profit' or 'to earn money' through a specific action or venture. Can also mean 'to get' or 'to obtain' something beneficial. A literal translation of "make" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "埋め合わせる"
昨日の遅刻を埋め合わせるために、今日は早く出社した。
To make up for being late yesterday, I came to work early today.
Bilingual Context for "儲ける"
彼は株で大金を儲けた。
He made a lot of money in stocks.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "昨日の遅刻を ＿＿＿ ために、今日は早く出社した。" (Meaning: "To make up for being late yesterday, I came to work early today.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "埋め合わせる" fits here because it means "to make up for; to compensate for; to make amends" in the context of: "To make up for being late yesterday, I came to work early today.". "儲ける" represents "to make a profit, to earn (money), to gain (transitive)".