諺語 · a single proverb
以德報怨，何以報德
What does 以德報怨，何以報德 (yǐ dé bào yuàn hé yǐ bào dé) mean?
以德報怨，何以報德 (yǐ dé bào yuàn hé yǐ bào dé) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "repay grievance with virtue, then what to repay virtue with." In use it means: If you repay injury with virtue, what do you have left with which to repay genuine kindness?. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Snake.
Literally: "repay grievance with virtue, then what to repay virtue with."
The reading
The one who uses their finest response on the enemy has spent it; when the friend arrives, only equal amounts remain available for all parties. Confucius argued for proportionality: repay injury with justice, and save virtue for virtue. The hierarchy of response is itself a statement about the hierarchy of relationships.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Analects of Confucius 論語·憲問 (Xiàn Wèn XIV)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Snake, Year of the Frog, and Year of the Rat.
Questions
Is 以德報怨，何以報德 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 以德報怨，何以報德 (yǐ dé bào yuàn hé yǐ bào dé) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Analects of Confucius 論語·憲問 (Xiàn Wèn XIV). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 以德報怨，何以報德?
In Mandarin it is yǐ dé bào yuàn hé yǐ bào dé. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 以德報怨，何以報德 aloud in Mandarin.