Definition
报恩 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to repay a favor or kindness'. The verb 报 ('repay') and the object 恩 ('favor, grace') can split when inserting complements, measure words, or duration — e.g. 报过他的恩 ('repaid his kindness') or 报不了这个恩 ('cannot repay this kindness'). You don't place a direct object after 报恩; instead say 对某人报恩 or separate the syllables. Common collocations: 报答恩情 (formal synonym), 知恩图报 (chengyu about recognizing and repaying kindness).
v.o.
to repay a kindnessto show gratitude for a favor received
Examples
- ，报恩。Tā duì wǒ shuō guò, yídìng yào bào ēn.He told me that he must repay the kindness.
- ，？Nǐ bāng le wǒ zhème duō, wǒ zěnme cái néng bào de liǎo zhège ēn ne?You've helped me so much — how can I ever repay this kindness?
- ，报恩。Gǔrén cháng shuō, dī shuǐ zhī ēn dāng yǒng quán bào ēn.The ancients often said that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring.
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