Chinese Idiom Stories: 投桃報李 (Tóu táo bào lǐ)

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Idiom: 投桃報李 (Tóu táo bào lǐ)

Literal Meaning: to repay a peach with a plum.
Explanation: 投桃報李 (tóu táo bào lǐ) means “to repay a peach with a plum.” It symbolizes the act of reciprocating kindness and is often used to express appreciation and the value of mutual support. This idiom emphasizes the importance of returning goodwill with goodwill, reinforcing bonds of friendship and gratitude.

Chinese Idiom Stories

The idiom “投桃報李” originated from ancient Chinese literature. In one tale, two friends exchanged gifts: one friend gave a peach, and the other returned the gesture with a plum.

This simple act represented the heartfelt exchange of kindness between friends. Over time, the phrase evolved to mean the reciprocation of any kind or generous action.

In modern usage, “投桃報李” reminds us that friendships and relationships thrive on mutual support, where kindness is met with gratitude and returned in kind.

Idiom Example Sentences

他幫助我這麼多，我也要投桃報李，盡我所能幫助他。
- Tā bāngzhù wǒ zhème duō, wǒ yě yào tóu táo bào lǐ, jìn wǒ suǒ néng bāngzhù tā.
- He has helped me so much, and I want to repay his kindness by helping him as much as I can.
朋友之間要懂得投桃報李，才能維持長久的關係。
- Péngyǒu zhī jiān yào dǒngdé tóu táo bào lǐ, cái néng wéichí chángjiǔ de guānxì.
- Among friends, repaying kindness with kindness is essential to maintaining a lasting relationship.

Practice Exercise

你認為投桃報李對朋友之間的重要性是什麼？
- Nǐ rènwéi tóu táo bào lǐ duì péngyǒu zhī jiān de zhòngyào xìng shì shénme?
- What importance do you think “repaying kindness with kindness” has in friendships?
  - Answer: Responses may vary based on personal views.