以直報怨

Chinese

to use; according to; so as to
to use; according to; so as to; in order to; by; with; because; Israel (abbrev.)
 
straight; vertical; frank
straight; vertical; frank; directly; straightly; upright
 
to announce; to inform; report
to announce; to inform; report; newspaper; to repay; to recompense; revenge
 
blame; complain
trad. (以直報怨)
simp. (以直报怨)

Etymology

From the Analects, Book 14 (《論語·憲問》):

或曰:「以德報怨何如?」:「何以報德以直報怨以德報德。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
或曰:「以德报怨何如?」:「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

以直報怨

  1. to recompense injury with justice

See also