以德報德

Chinese

to use; according to; so as to
to use; according to; so as to; in order to; by; with; because; Israel (abbrev.)
 
Germany; virtue; goodness
Germany; virtue; goodness; morality; ethics; kindness; favour; character; kind
 
to announce; to inform; report
to announce; to inform; report; newspaper; to repay; to recompense; revenge
 
Germany; virtue; goodness
Germany; virtue; goodness; morality; ethics; kindness; favour; character; kind
 
trad. (以德報德) 以 德 報 德
simp. (以德报德) 以 德 报 德

Etymology

From the Analects, Book 14 (《論語·憲問》):

或曰：「以德報怨，何如？」子曰：「何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
或曰：「以德报怨，何如？」子曰：「何以报德？以直报怨，以德报德。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Huòyuē: “Yǐ dé bào yuàn, hérú?” Zǐ yuē: “Héyǐ bàodé? Yǐ zhí bào yuàn, yǐ dé bào dé.” [Pinyin]
Some one said, "What do you say concerning the principle that injury should be recompensed with kindness?" The Master said, "With what then will you recompense kindness? Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness."

Pronunciation

Idiom

以德報德

  1. to recompense kindness with kindness

See also

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