Meaning and Usage
The verb 補う (おぎなう) means "to compensate for" or "to supplement" something that is lacking or insufficient. It is often used when talking about filling gaps, whether in physical resources like nutrition, skills, or manpower.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see 補う used in contexts such as nutrition (e.g., supplements), skills or experience (making up for a lack by effort), and systems or processes that fill shortages (like machines compensating for labor shortages).
Collocations and Patterns
- 栄養を補う: to supplement nutrition
- 経験不足を補う: to compensate for lack of experience
- 人手不足を補う: to make up for labor shortage
These phrases highlight how 補う is used to express making up for something missing or insufficient.
Register and Nuance
補う is a neutral, polite verb suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It implies an active effort to fill a deficiency rather than a passive state.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 補う with similar verbs like 埋める (うめる), which means "to fill" physically, but 補う often has a more abstract or functional nuance of compensating or supplementing rather than just filling space.