報仇 / 报仇
bàochóu
The English phrase "revenge" can be translated into Chinese using several forms, primarily 報仇 / 报仇 (bàochóu), 復仇 / 复仇 or 報復 / 报复.
Meaning: retaliatory action (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 報仇 / 报仇 | bàochóu |
| 復仇 / 复仇 | fùchóu |
| 報復 / 报复 | bàofù |
These words refer to retaliatory actions. 報仇 / 报仇 and 報復 / 报复 can function as both nouns (revenge) and verbs (to take revenge) depending on how they are used in a sentence.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 報仇 / 报仇 is composed of 報 (to repay or report) and 仇 (grudge or enmity).
Which one should you use?
The forms differ in their emotional and situational tone. 報仇 / 报仇 is typically used for personal vendettas or seeking justice for a personal wrong, a context often found in literature and martial arts. 復仇 / 复仇 carries a more formal, literary or epic tone, often used when describing the act of avenging a cause or a fallen hero. 報復 / 报复 refers to retaliation or reprisals in a political, social or systemic context rather than a personal grudge.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
bàochóu
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese internet slang, the phrase 報復 is often used jokingly to describe eating a huge meal after a period of dieting.
- In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 報仇 is often linked to 'filial piety', where avenging a parent was seen as a moral duty rather than a crime.
- While 報仇 is common in Wuxia novels, the phrase 血債血償 meaning 'blood debts must be paid in blood' is the quintessential motto for such revenge plots.
Examples in context
- 我要对他进行报复I will seek revenge against him.
- 她决定为自己复仇She decided to take revenge for herself.
- 他一定会报仇的He will definitely seek revenge.
- 我要跟他算账I want to settle accounts with him.
- 他正在策划报复He is plotting revenge.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “revenge” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
