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报仇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
报仇bàochóuto take revengeHSK 7, v, rank #4357, Hard
报仇bàochóuto avengeHSK 7, v, rank #4357, Hard
bàochóu(bao4chou2) T4
  1. 1to take revenge
  2. 2to avenge
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March 24, 2026
报仇(報仇)bàochóu(bao4chou2)

报仇 (bàochóu) means to take revenge or to avenge oneself for a wrong or injury suffered. It is commonly used in contexts involving personal grievances or conflicts, often reflecting deep emotional responses. The term can denote a sense of justice or retaliation in both personal and social situations.

Frequency#4357DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of revenge can be tied to notions of honor and family loyalty, as seen in traditional stories and historical accounts. The idea of '报仇' often appears in literature and film, reflecting the complexities of personal and familial honor.

Memory Tip

Imagine a character named Bao who always gets back at those who wrong him. The character 报 (bào) resembles a person shouting out for revenge, while 仇 (chóu) looks like a person frowning in anger. Together, 'Bao takes his revenge' helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 报仇

bàochóu(bao4chou2)
1to take revenge
2to avenge
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 报仇

报仇Simplified
報仇Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4357Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 报仇

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Podcast: 报仇

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AI Study Notes for 报仇

Quick Contrast

复仇 (fùchóu) - use 报仇 (bàochóu) for personal revenge, while 复仇 (fùchóu) often implies a broader or more formal concept of vengeance.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a character named Bao who always gets back at those who wrong him. The character 报 (bào) resembles a person shouting out for revenge, while 仇 (chóu) looks like a person frowning in anger. Together, 'Bao takes his revenge' helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Usage Notes

When using 报仇, be cautious of the tone as it carries a strong emotional weight; it is often considered informal. Common collocations include 报仇于 (to take revenge on) and 进行报仇 (to carry out revenge). Avoid using this term in overly formal contexts, where other expressions for justice might be more appropriate.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 报仇 connects to themes of conflict and resolution found in other advanced vocabulary. Students should focus on its usage in idiomatic expressions and familiarizing themselves with synonyms related to justice and revenge to deepen their understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of revenge can be tied to notions of honor and family loyalty, as seen in traditional stories and historical accounts. The idea of '报仇' often appears in literature and film, reflecting the complexities of personal and familial honor.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 报仇 with 复仇 (fùchóu), which is more formal. For example, saying '我想复仇他的行为' (I want to take revenge for his behavior) is incorrect; it should be '我想报仇他的行为.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 报仇

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Component Characters

bàoto announce
HSK 77 strokes
View full entry
chóuhatred
HSK 74 strokes
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Write 报仇

Practice writing 报仇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 报仇

报仇 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

金旺自从碰了小芹的钉子以后,每分怀恨, 总想设法报一____.

Ever since Qin rebuffed him, Wang longed for revenge.

Example Sentences for 报仇 (3)

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1
金旺自从碰了小芹的钉子以后,每分怀恨, 总想设法报一报仇.

jīn wàng zì cóng pèng le xiǎo qín de dīng zǐ yǐ hòu, , měi fēn huái, hèn , zǒng xiǎng shè fǎ bào yī.

Ever since Qin rebuffed him, Wang longed for revenge.
2
老头子点点头说: “ 报仇好比一盘放冷了之后味道才最香的菜.

lǎo tóu zǐ diǎn diǎn tóu shuō:“ : “ bào chóu hǎo bǐ yī pán fàng lěng le zhī hòu wèi dào cái zuì xiāng de.

Don Corleone nodded. " Revenge is a dish that tastes best when it is cold, " he said.
3
杰克受了很深的伤害, 他等待着报仇的时机.

jié kè shòu le hěn shēn de shāng hài, , tā děng dài zháo bào chóu de shí.

Jack was hurt deeply, and he bided his time for revenge.

Cultural Notes for 报仇

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of revenge can be tied to notions of honor and family loyalty, as seen in traditional stories and historical accounts. The idea of '报仇' often appears in literature and film, reflecting the complexities of personal and familial honor.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In contrast to Western perspectives that often emphasize forgiveness and moving on, Chinese culture may view the act of seeking revenge as a necessary response to dishonor or injury.

Frequently Asked Questions about 报仇

It is generally used in a negative context, as it implies a desire for revenge, which can lead to further conflict.