恩将仇报

Pronunciation: ēn jiāng chóu bào Literal meaning: Repay kindness with enmity

Origin & Usage

The idiom 恩将仇报 (ēn jiāng chóu bào) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to describe the act of repaying kindness with enmity. While its specific origin is not definitively tied to a single historical event, it is frequently illustrated through stories such as those found in the Ming dynasty's 'Journey to the West' (西游记) by Wu Cheng'en. In one notable episode, the character Sun Wukong (孙悟空) saves a princess, only to be falsely accused of wrongdoing, exemplifying the betrayal of good deeds. The idiom consists of four characters: 恩 (ēn, kindness), 将 (jiāng, to use), 仇 (chóu, enmity), and 报 (bào, to repay). In modern contexts, it is used to criticize acts of ingratitude and betrayal, highlighting the moral expectation to reciprocate kindness with gratitude rather than hostility.

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。