補

音読おんよみ: ホ

訓読くんよみ: おぎなう

画数かくすう: 12

部首ぶしゅ: 衤 (ころもへん)

Meaning

Supplement / Assist / Compensate

  • Basic forms
  • 補う — supplement; make up for / base form
  • 補います — supplements; makes up for / masu form
  • 補った — supplemented; made up for / ta form
  • 補って — supplementing … / te form
  • 補わない — do not supplement / negative
  • 補えば — if (one) supplements / conditional
  • Common expressions
  • 不足を補う — make up for a shortage
  • 欠点を補う — compensate for a weakness
  • 栄養を補う — supplement nutrition
  • More
  • 補いたい — want to supplement / 〜たい form
  • 補おう — let’s supplement / 〜よう form
  • 補っている — is supplementing / state

補う（おぎなう） is a godan transitive verb. It means to add what is lacking or insufficient in order to restore balance or completeness.

  • 補助ほじょ — assistance / support
  • 候補こうほ — candidate / nominee
  • 補足ほそく — supplement / add-on
  • 補習ほしゅう — supplementary lessons
  • 補充ほじゅう — replenishment / refill

補 combines the 衣 (clothing) radical with 甫 (phonetic). 衣 suggests “covering,” reinforcing the sense of filling a gap or providing support. The idea is to assist or complete something lacking.

Common in government, education, and technical contexts — for aid, correction, or replenishment.

彼かれは 知識ちしきを 補おぎなうために 本ほんをたくさん読よんでいる。
He reads many books to supplement his knowledge.

政府せいふは 被災地ひさいちに 補助金ほじょきんを 支給しきゅうしました。
The government provided subsidies to the disaster area.

候
Creates
候補こうほ — candidate / nominee
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