ji5 dak1 bou3 jyun3以德報怨以德报怨

Jyutpingji5 dak1 bou3 jyun3

Yaleyíh dāk bou yun

語句

Definition

To repay evil with good; to return good deeds for bad deeds, forgiving past wrongs.

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How it's used

This idiom carries a strong moral weight and is often used in debates about whether one should be forgiving or firm. It is frequently contrasted with the Confucian concept of 以直報怨, which suggests responding to wrongdoing with justice or fairness rather than blind kindness. Using this phrase often implies that the speaker thinks the person being described is being too soft or naive.

Examples

keoi5佢deoi3對nei5你gam3咁caa1差，nei5你zung6仲jiu3要ji5以dak1德bou3報jyun3怨aa4呀？

They treat you so badly, and you still want to repay evil with good?

ngo5我m4唔wui2會ji5以dak1德bou3報jyun3怨，zou6做jan4人jiu3要jau5有dai2底sin3線。

I will not repay evil with good; one must have boundaries.

Common phrases

ji5以dak1德bou3報jyun3怨ge3嘅taai3態dou6度

an attitude of repaying evil with good

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a general term for kindness, but it specifically refers to the act of showing grace to someone who has actively harmed you. It is not used for simple acts of generosity toward strangers or friends.