Definition
人情 (rén qíng) refers to the social currency of favors and obligations in relationships — it's the unspoken debt created when someone does you a good turn. Unlike 交情 (jiāo qing, the personal bond itself) or 恩情 (ēn qíng, a deep kindness owed), 人情 is about the give-and-take of favors and the expectation of reciprocity in Chinese social life.
noun
human feelingsemotional bonds between peoplefavora good turn (often with an implied social obligation)social relationshippersonal connections (as in 人情世故)
Examples
- ,人情。Tā bāng le wǒ yí gè dà máng, wǒ qiàn tā yí gè rén qíng.He did me a big favor, so I owe him one.
- ,人情。Zài Zhōngguó, sòng lǐ shì biǎodá rén qíng de yì zhǒng fāngshì.In China, giving gifts is a way of expressing social sentiment.
- 人情,。Tā zhège rén hěn dǒng rén qíng, dàjiā dōu xǐhuan hé tā xiāngchǔ.He is very socially savvy; everyone likes to get along with him.
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