penance
n
1 [C, U] ~ (for sth) punishment that one imposes on oneself to show that one is sorry for having done wrong (表示忏悔的)自我惩罚: an act of penance 自惩
do penance (ie perform an act that shows one is sorry) for one´s sins 为赎罪进行自我惩罚
(joc 谑) She made him do the washing-up as
(a) penance for forgetting her birthday. 因为他把她生日忘了, 所以她罚他洗碗.
2 [U] (in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches) sacrament that includes confession, absolution and an act of penance imposed by the priest (天主教和东正教的)补赎圣事, 告解圣事, 修和圣事.