English–Chinese
“return the favor” in Chinese
Chinese
Pronunciation
Pinyintóu táo bào lǐ
Example
邻居请客，我也要投桃报李。lín jū qǐng kè wǒ yě yào tóu táo bào lǐ
My neighbor invited me over, so I will return the favor.
How to say “return the favor” in Chinese
“Return the favor” in Chinese is 投桃报李 (tóu táo bào lǐ).
Goodwill passes from one person to another and is answered in kind, keeping the relationship mutually cared for.
Example sentences with 投桃报李
朋友帮我搬家，我用礼物投桃报李。péng yǒu bāng wǒ bān jiā wǒ yòng lǐ wù tóu táo bào lǐ
My friend helped me move, so I returned the favor with a gift.
Tips for using 投桃报李
- The response is judged by goodwill rather than exact price or identical form, so the idiom does not require a literal or perfectly equal exchange.