払い戻し

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 払い戻し (はらいもどし) is a noun for a refund or reimbursement of money already paid.
• Basic usage: 払い戻しを受ける means to receive a refund, while 払い戻しを申し込む means to apply for one.
  • 中止になった公演の払い戻しを受けた。 — I received a refund for the canceled performance.
  • 窓口で切符の払い戻しを申し込んだ。 — I applied for a ticket refund at the counter.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Refund and change
  • 払い戻し reverses a completed payment, while お釣り is change returned during a purchase. Also distinguish applying for a refund from receiving it.