报答

• Pinyin: bào dá
• Hanzi breakdown: 报 = 扌(hand) + 服 simplified, meaning repay; 答 = 竹 (bamboo) + 合 (join)

Meaning

Repay; requite. To return kindness, favor, or gratitude to someone who has helped you.

Used for expressing gratitude through actions, especially repaying parents' upbringing (报答父母), teachers' guidance, or benefactors' help. Implies a sense of moral obligation to reciprocate.

Examples

1. 我一定要好好学习，将来报答父母的养育之恩。 I must study hard to repay my parents' nurturing grace in the future.
2. 他一直在寻找机会报答当年救过他的恩人。 He has been looking for opportunities to repay the benefactor who once saved him.
3. 你们的帮助我无以报答，只能说声谢谢。 I have no way to repay your help; I can only say thank you.

Usage Guide

Context: family, gratitude, morality

Tone: sincere

Do Say

• 我会努力工作来报答你的培养。(I will work hard to repay your guidance.)
• 这份恩情我永远报答不完。(I can never fully repay this kindness.)

Don't Say

• 对陌生人的小帮助说'报答'——太正式了，简单说'谢谢'就好 (Don't use 报答 for small favors from strangers — it's too formal; just say 谢谢)

Origin & History

Compound of 报 (report/repay) + 答 (answer/respond), suggesting responding to kindness received.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal