恩将仇报
恩将仇报 (ēn jiāng chóu bào) literally means “repay kindness with enmity” and expresses “ingratitude and betrayal”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: en jiang chou bao, en jiang chou bao,恩将仇报 meaning, 恩将仇报 in english
Ingratitude and betrayal
Pronunciation: ēn jiāng chóu bào Literal meaning: Repay kindness with enmity
Origin & Usage
Kindness (恩) taken (将) and repaid (报) with enmity (仇). It is the standard vernacular charge of ingratitude, and Ming fiction is full of it — Journey to the West returns to the pattern repeatedly, with Sun Wukong rescuing someone who then turns on him. The phrase is stronger than the English 'ungrateful', because it does not describe an absence of thanks but an active reversal, help answered with harm. It is an accusation rather than a complaint.
Examples
English: "Instead of being grateful, he turned against those who helped him, embodying the worst of human nature."
Chinese: 他本该感恩，却恩将仇报，真让人失望。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
忘恩负义
wàng ēn fù yì
Ungrateful betrayal
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Good and evil deeds repaid in kind
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将心比心
jiāng xīn bǐ xīn
Empathy and understanding
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朝秦暮楚
zhāo qín mù chǔ
Constantly shifting loyalty for personal gain
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东张西望
dōng zhāng xī wàng
Glancing around in all directions; unable to settle
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将计就计
jiāng jì jiù jì
Turn the enemy's own plot against him
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唱空城计
chàng kōng chéng jì
Use bold confidence to mask vulnerability
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损兵折将
sǔn bīng zhé jiàng
Suffer heavy losses
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 恩将仇报 mean in English?
恩将仇报 (ēn jiāng chóu bào) literally translates to “Repay kindness with enmity” and is used to express “Ingratitude and betrayal”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 恩将仇报 used?
Situation: Instead of being grateful, he turned against those who helped him, embodying the worst of human nature.
What is the pinyin for 恩将仇报?
The pinyin pronunciation for 恩将仇报 is “ēn jiāng chóu bào”.