報怨

報怨

1. to avenge a grievance

   • 或曰：「以德報怨，何如？」子曰：「何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
     或曰：「以德报怨，何如？」子曰：「何以报德？以直报怨，以德报德。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Huò yuē: “Yǐ dé bàoyuàn, hérú?” Zǐ yuē: “Héyǐ bào dé? Yǐ zhí bàoyuàn, yǐ dé bàodé.” [Pinyin]

     Some one said, "What do you say concerning the principle that injury should be recompensed with kindness?" The Master said, "With what then will you recompense kindness? Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness."

   • 胡人不敢南下而牧馬，士不敢彎弓而報怨。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
     胡人不敢南下而牧马，士不敢弯弓而报怨。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

     From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

     Húrén bùgǎn nánxià ér mùmǎ, shì bùgǎn wāngōng ér bàoyuàn. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

2. synonym of 抱怨 (bàoyuàn, “to complain; to blame; to grumble about”)