以德报怨 Yǐ dé bào yuàn Repay evil with kindness

Explanation

用恩德去报答怨恨自己的人。比喻宽宏大量，不与人计较。

To repay hatred with kindness. It refers to being magnanimous and not holding grudges against others.

Origin Story

春秋时期，晋国有个叫士季的人，为人正直，深受百姓爱戴。一次，他得罪了权臣，被贬官流放。流放途中，他路过一个村庄，村里人因他得罪权臣而对他冷嘲热讽，甚至有人往他身上扔石头。士季却泰然处之，并没有因此而心怀怨恨。后来，他凭借自己的才能和德行，受到了晋文公的重用，官至上卿。当他再次回到那个村庄时，村民们都前来向他赔罪。士季并没有追究他们的过错，反而对他们施以恩惠，帮助他们改善生活。他以德报怨的行为，感动了所有的人，也成为了后世学习的榜样。这个故事告诉我们，以德报怨是一种高尚的品德，能够化解矛盾，促进和谐。

chūnqiū shíqī, jìn guó yǒu gè jiào shì jì de rén, wéirén zhèngzhí, shēn shòu bǎixìng àidài. yīcì, tā dè zuì le quánchén, bèi biǎn guān liúfàng. liúfàng túzhōng, tā lù guò yīgè cūnzhuāng, cūn lǐ rén yīn tā dè zuì quánchén ér duì tā lěng cháorè fěng, shènzhì yǒu rén wǎng tā shēnshang rēng shítou. shì jì què tàirán chǔzhī, bìng méiyǒu yīncǐ ér xīnhuái yuàn hèn. hòulái, tā píngjìe zìjǐ de cáinéng hé déxíng, shòudào le jìn wén gōng de zhòngyòng, guān zhì shàng qīng. dāng tā zàicì huí dào nàge cūnzhuāng shí, cūnmínmen dōu qǐng lái xiàng tā péicuì. shì jì bìng méiyǒu zhuījiū tāmen de guòcuò, fǎn'ér duì tāmen shī yǐ ēnhuì, bāngzhù tāmen gǎishàn shēnghuó. tā yǐ dé bào yuàn de xíngwéi, gǎndòng le suǒyǒu de rén, yě chéngwéi le hòushì xuéxí de bǎngyàng. zhège gùshì gàosù wǒmen, yǐ dé bào yuàn shì yī zhǒng gāoshàng de pǐndé, nénggòu huà jiě máodùn, cùjìn héxié.

During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a man named Shi Ji in the state of Jin, known for his integrity and the love of the people. Once, he offended a powerful minister and was banished. On his way to exile, he passed through a village where the villagers mocked and even threw stones at him because he had offended the minister. However, Shi Ji remained calm and did not harbor resentment. Later, due to his talent and moral character, he was reinstated by Duke Wen of Jin and rose to become a high minister. When he returned to the village, the villagers came to apologize to him. Shi Ji did not hold them accountable but instead showed them kindness and helped improve their lives. His act of repaying evil with kindness moved everyone and became a role model for later generations. This story teaches us that repaying evil with kindness is a noble virtue that can resolve conflict and promote harmony.

Usage

形容宽宏大量，不与人计较；常用于劝诫、赞美。

xiáoróng dàliàng, bù yǔ rén jìjiào; cháng yòng yú quànjiè, zànměi

Describes being magnanimous and not holding grudges; often used in admonitions and praise.

Examples

• 面对别人的恶意，他却以德报怨，令人敬佩。

  miàn duì biérén de èyì, tā què yǐ dé bào yuàn, lìng rén jìngpèi

  Facing others' malice, he repaid them with kindness, which is admirable.

• 以德报怨，才能化解仇恨，促进和谐。

  yǐ dé bào yuàn, cáinéng huà jiě chóuhèn, cùjìn héxié

  Only by repaying evil with kindness can we resolve hatred and promote harmony.

Related Idioms

• 宽宏大量

• 大度

Opposite Idioms

• 忘恩负义

• 以怨报德