補う

oginau
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make up for, supplement, compensate for
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/oŋinaɯ/
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+1
To supply what is missing so something works or feels whole.

Examples

  • 二人は互いの弱点を補っている。
    The two make up for each other’s weaknesses.
  • 不足した栄養を野菜で補う。
    Make up for missing nutrients with vegetables.
  • 欠員を臨時職員で補いました。
    We filled the vacancy with a temporary worker.
  • 売上の減少を別の事業で補う。
    We will offset the drop in sales with another business.
  • 説明の足りない部分を図で補った。
    I filled in the missing part of the explanation with a diagram.

Similar words

補充する
埋め合わせる
補填する
補完する

Meanings

Make up for a shortfall

verb
resources
neutral
To fill a lack, weakness or loss with something that helps restore what is needed.

Examples

  • 不足した栄養を野菜で補う。
    Make up for missing nutrients with vegetables.
  • 二人は互いの弱点を補っている。
    The two make up for each other’s weaknesses.
  • 説明の足りない部分を図で補った。
    I filled in the missing part of the explanation with a diagram.
  • 売上の減少を別の事業で補う。
    We will offset the drop in sales with another business.
  • 欠員を臨時職員で補いました。
    We filled the vacancy with a temporary worker.

Similar words

Etymology

The character 補 originally evokes repairing cloth with a patch, then extends to making up any lack.

FAQ

What does 補う mean?

To supply what is missing so something works or feels whole.

How do you read 補う?

It is read おぎなう, written oginau.

When would you use 補う?

It applies to shortages of material, information, ability, money or people.

How is 補う different from 加える?

加える adds something whether or not it is missing; this specifically fills a shortfall.

How does 補う change in a sentence?

A godan verb: 補って, 補った, 補わない.

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