to reward, to repay, to return (a favor), to retaliate

💡 Nuance & Usage: Used when returning kindness or showing gratitude, but can also imply returning hostility or taking revenge. Often seen in phrases like 恩に報いる (on ni mukuiru - to repay a kindness). 恩義や労苦に対して、それに見合う行動や結果で返すこと。