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回报 (huí bào) — to reciprocate, to repay (someone's kindness or favor); to report back (to a superior about progress or results)

Definition

回报 covers two senses: repaying a kindness or favor (positive reciprocation; share this meaning with 报答) and reporting back to a superior on progress (no sibling overlaps here). Unlike 报复 or 报仇, it implies returning good will, not revenge.

verb
to reciprocateto repay (someone's kindness or favor)to report back (to a superior about progress or results)

Examples

  • 。
    Wǒ huì nǔ lì gōng zuò lái huí bào nǐ de xìn rèn.
    I will work hard to repay your trust.
  • 回报。
    Tā měi gè yuè dōu yào xiàng zǒng bù huí bào xiāo shòu qíng kuàng.
    He has to report sales to headquarters every month.
  • ，回报？
    Tā sòng le wǒ yí fèn lǐ wù, wǒ gāi zěn yàng huí bào ne?
    She gave me a gift; how should I reciprocate?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

回huíreturn
报bàorepay

回 means return and 报 means repay or report; together they suggest giving back in response.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

回 comes from a drawing of a spiral, showing something turning around.

Open 回 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 報; 报 is its simplified writing.

  • 㚔㚔㚔handcuffs
  • 𠬝𠬝𠬝to subdue

The traditional form 報 puts 㚔 (handcuffs) beside 𠬝 (to subdue), showing someone restrained and subdued, as in convicting or punishing a guilty person. The simplified 报 is a later shorthand.

Open 报 →
Appears in
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