相殺

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 相殺（そうさい） means offsetting corresponding amounts or effects so that they are reduced or canceled out.
• Basic usage: 互いの債権を相殺して describes offsetting mutual claims; 利点と欠点が相殺されて describes the effects of advantages and disadvantages counteracting each other.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The reading of this word
  • This headword, meaning offsetting or cancellation, is read そうさい. Learn it as a whole word rather than importing a familiar character reading and reading it as そうさつ.
• Not limited to complete cancellation
  • The first example says 残額だけ支払った, so an amount remains after offsetting. The second says 効果は小さくなった, so do not restrict 相殺 to outcomes that become exactly zero.