Definition
投桃报李 is a four-character idiom (成语) from the Book of Songs (《诗经》). It literally means 'to throw a peach and repay with a plum' — describing the ideal of reciprocating a favor or gift with something equally generous. You use it to talk about mutual exchange of goodwill, favors, or gifts between friends, colleagues, or partners, emphasizing that the return gesture is fitting and generous.
id.
to reciprocate a favor or gift with something equally generousmutual exchange of goodwill
Examples
- 投桃报李，。Péngyou zhī jiān jiǎngjiu tóu táo bào lǐ, hùxiāng bāngzhù.Between friends, it's important to reciprocate favors and help each other.
- ，，投桃报李。Tā sòng le wǒ yì běn shū, wǒ huízèng le yì fú huà, yě suàn shì tóu táo bào lǐ le.He gave me a book, and I gave him a painting in return — that counts as a mutual exchange of gifts.
- 投桃报李，。Hézuò zhōng shuāngfāng tóu táo bào lǐ, guānxi cáinéng chángjiǔ.In cooperation, only when both sides reciprocate can the relationship last long.
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