饶 (ráo) — to let off, to forgive (leniently); to give extra, to throw in as a bonus (in transactions)
Definition
饶 has two distinct uses: to forgive or let someone off (close to 放过, less formal than 饶恕) and to throw in extra as a bonus in transactions.
verb
to let offto forgive (leniently)to give extrato throw in as a bonus (in transactions)
Examples
- 饶，。Wǒ zhè cì jiù ráo le nǐ, xià cì zài fàn cuò jiù bú kè qi le.I'll let you off this time, but next time you make a mistake I won't be so nice.
- ，饶。Mǎi sān jīn jú zi, lǎo bǎn ráo le wǒ yí gè.I bought three jin of oranges, and the boss threw in one extra.
- ，饶。Mǎi sān jīn píng guǒ, lǎo bǎn ráo le wǒ yí gè.I bought three jin of apples, and the boss threw in one extra.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 饒; 饶 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
堯
堯yáo饒ráo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 饒 uses 食 (food) for meaning and 堯 for sound; the simplified 饶 is a later shorthand.
Appears in
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