Chinese Conversation · Level 29
90 words
Chinese word
报恩
Pronunciation
Pinyinbào ēn
Meaning
- verbreturn a favor
Example
他一直想着怎么报恩。tā yì zhí xiǎng zhe zěn me bào ēn
He keeps thinking about how to return the favor.
More examples
她想向父母报恩，就常帮忙做家务。tā xiǎng xiàng fù mǔ bào ēn jiù cháng bāng máng zuò jiā wù
She wants to return a favor to her parents, so she often helps with housework.
Core concept
A received kindness is answered by a concrete act, gift, or other return.
Common phrases
向父母报恩xiàng fù mǔ bào ēn
return a favor to one's parents
向恩人报恩xiàng ēn rén bào ēn
return a favor to one's benefactor
Similar words
回报huí bào: Return a kindness, favor, or helpful act by doing something beneficial in return.
报答bào dá: Repay kindness or help with thanks shown through an action, gift, or other response.
感谢gǎn xiè: Express gratitude to someone through words, attitude, or a polite response.
Definition in Chinese
对别人给予的恩惠或帮助进行回报，通常指用实际行动或物质报答所受的好处。duì bié rén jí yǔ de ēn huì huò bāng zhù jìn xíng huí bào tōng cháng zhǐ yòng shí jì xíng dòng huò wù zhì bào dá suǒ shòu de hǎo chù
Word origin
报恩 (bàoēn, "repay kindness") combines 报 (bào, "repay") and 恩 (ēn, "kindness"), presenting gratitude as something returned rather than merely spoken.
Usage tips
- In everyday speech, this word can sound solemn, so it is especially suitable for lasting gratitude toward family members, teachers, or other important helpers.
Other meanings
- repayment of a kindnessnoun