ชดเชย

Explanation

The core idea of ชดเชย is restoring balance after a loss or shortfall. For financial compensation, a common pattern is ชดเชยความเสียหายให้...: “compensate someone for damage.” The usual structure is ชดเชย + what is being made up for + ให้ + recipient. When the loss is already clear, the object may be omitted. The word also applies to missing time or activity. สอนชดเชย means to teach a make-up class, while ทำงานชดเชย means to work in order to make up for missed time or work. In เงินชดเชย and ค่าชดเชย, ชดเชย modifies the preceding noun and means “provided as compensation.” In employment contexts, ค่าชดเชย often refers specifically to severance or termination compensation.

Usage

This word is common when a business compensates customers for a service failure, an insurer covers a loss, or an employer pays compensation or severance to an employee. It is also used for making up missed class or work time, offsetting reduced income or higher expenses, and referring to a substitute public holiday. It occurs in everyday speech but is especially common in business, news, insurance, and employment contexts.

Caution

Do not use ชดเชย for simple replacement or substitution; ทดแทน is usually more natural in that case. When the emphasis is on repaying a debt or atoning for wrongdoing, ชดใช้ is generally preferred. ชดเชย focuses on offsetting what was lost or lacking.

1 compensate synonyms

• ชดใช้

  chótcháy compensate for (damage or loss)

  ชดใช้ emphasizes repaying a debt or making amends for damage or wrongdoing, often with a stronger sense of obligation. ชดเชย focuses more broadly on offsetting a loss or disadvantage.

• ตอบแทน

  ตอบแทน means to reward someone or return a favor. ชดเชย is used when making up for a loss, harm, or shortfall.

2 make up for synonyms

• ทดแทน

  thótthɛɛn compensate for

  ทดแทน primarily means to replace someone or something with a substitute. ชดเชย emphasizes making up for an amount that was lost or lacking.