因果応報

Reading

Kana: いんがおうほう

Romaji: ingaouhou

Definition

noun

1

retribution; retributive justice; karma; just deserts; poetic justice; reward and punishment for one's past behavior

Note: yojijukugo

Kanji

因

Readings: イン、 よ.る、 ちな.む

Meanings: cause, factor, be associated with, depend on, be limited to

果

Readings: カ、 は.たす、 はた.す、 -は.たす、 は.てる、 -は.てる、 は.て

Meanings: fruit, reward, carry out, achieve, complete, end, finish, succeed

応

Readings: オウ、 ヨウ、 -ノウ、 あた.る、 まさに、 こた.える

Meanings: apply, answer, yes, OK, reply, accept

報

Readings: ホウ、 むく.いる

Meanings: report, news, reward, retribution

Example Sentence

汚(きたな)い手(て)で会社(かいしゃ)を乗(のと)っ取()ったものの、腹心(ふくしん)だと思(おも)っていた部下(ぶか)に裏切(うらぎ)られ、因果応報(いんがおうほう)だね。

➥When the trusted confidant of the person who conducted a hostile takeover of the company betrayed him, it was a sort of retributive justice.