fùchóu: 复仇 - Revenge, Vengeance

• Keywords: 复仇, fùchóu, fuchou, revenge in Chinese, vengeance in Chinese, Chinese word for revenge, take revenge in Chinese, get revenge Chinese, wuxia, Chinese culture revenge, 报仇, bàochóu.
• Summary: 复仇 (fùchóu) is the formal Chinese word for “revenge” or “vengeance.” It describes a serious, profound, and often long-planned act of retribution for a grave injustice, such as murder or deep betrayal. Far from petty payback, 复仇 is a powerful concept deeply embedded in Chinese culture, literature, and film, particularly in the wuxia (martial arts hero) genre. This page explores the deep meaning of 复仇 (fùchóu), its cultural roots, and how to use this dramatic term correctly when speaking Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fù chóu
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To take revenge; the act of vengeance.
• In a Nutshell: 复仇 (fùchóu) isn't about getting even for a small insult. It's a heavy, solemn term reserved for righting a profound wrong. Think of it as the epic revenge you see in movies—a hero dedicating their life to avenging their murdered family, or a kingdom rising up to reclaim its honor after a devastating betrayal. The word carries a sense of gravity, determination, and a quest for justice against a deep-seated hatred.

• 复 (fù): This character means “to return,” “to restore,” or “to repeat.” Imagine returning something to its original place or state.
• 仇 (chóu): This character means “hatred,” “enmity,” or “enemy.” It combines the person radical (亻) with a phonetic component, signifying a deep-seated hatred held by a person.
• Combined Meaning: The characters literally combine to mean “to return hatred.” This perfectly captures the essence of 复仇: responding to an act of deep animosity with a deliberate and powerful act of retribution.

The concept of 复仇 in Chinese culture is often tied to justice, honor, and filial piety, rather than simple, angry retaliation. It is seen as a moral imperative in certain situations, a way of restoring cosmic balance and honoring the wronged. A cornerstone of this idea is the famous proverb: 君子报仇，十年不晚 (jūnzǐ bàochóu, shí nián bù wǎn), which translates to “For a gentleman to take revenge, ten years is not too late.” This doesn't endorse vengeance but highlights a particular approach to it: one that is patient, calculated, and driven by principle, not by hot-headed passion. It contrasts with the impulsive, “eye for an eye” mentality. This theme is the lifeblood of the 武侠 (wǔxiá) genre of novels and films. Countless stories feature a protagonist whose entire journey is a quest for 复仇—to avenge a murdered master (师傅, shīfu) or slaughtered family. In this context, revenge is a noble and righteous path that drives the hero's training and ultimate destiny. Compared to the Western concept of “getting even,” which can be casual or even humorous, 复仇 is almost exclusively used for grave matters. You would never use 复仇 to describe getting back at a coworker for a prank. 复仇 implies a wrong so deep that it has fundamentally disrupted the moral order, and only an equally significant act can set it right.

复仇 is a formal and literary term. You are far more likely to encounter it in writing or media than in everyday conversation.

• In Media and Literature: This is its primary home. It's used constantly when discussing plots of movies, TV dramas (especially historical or wuxia genres), and novels. “The main character's motive is revenge” is a perfect use case.
• In News and Formal Contexts: It may be used by journalists or officials to describe serious, premeditated crimes like a revenge killing. Its usage here emphasizes the gravity and deliberate nature of the act.
• In Conversation: It is rarely used in casual speech. Using 复仇 to describe a minor personal conflict would sound overly dramatic and even strange. For smaller acts of getting back at someone, the word 报复 (bàofù) is much more common.

The connotation of 复仇 is heavy and serious. While it can be portrayed as a righteous quest in fiction, in real life it often carries the negative weight of a destructive, all-consuming obsession.

• Example 1:
  • 为了给父亲复仇，他苦练了十年武功。
  • Pinyin: Wèile gěi fùqīn fùchóu, tā kǔ liànle shí nián wǔgōng.
  • English: In order to get revenge for his father, he arduously practiced martial arts for ten years.
  • Analysis: A classic wuxia (martial arts fiction) trope. 复仇 is the central, life-defining motivation for the character.
• Example 2:
  • 这部电影讲述了一个关于爱与复仇的故事。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng jiǎngshùle yīgè guānyú ài yǔ fùchóu de gùshì.
  • English: This movie tells a story about love and revenge.
  • Analysis: Here, 复仇 is used as a noun, representing the abstract concept or theme of vengeance in a story.
• Example 3:
  • 他心中充满了复仇的火焰。
  • Pinyin: Tā xīnzhōng chōngmǎnle fùchóu de huǒyàn.
  • English: His heart was filled with the flames of vengeance.
  • Analysis: A very literary and metaphorical phrase, “复仇之火” (fùchóu zhī huǒ), emphasizing the all-consuming nature of the desire for revenge.
• Example 4:
  • 王子发誓要向杀害他全家的敌人复仇。
  • Pinyin: Wángzǐ fāshì yào xiàng shāhài tā quánjiā de dírén fùchóu.
  • English: The prince swore to take revenge on the enemies who murdered his entire family.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the formal structure “向 [someone] 复仇” (xiàng [someone] fùchóu), meaning “to take revenge on [someone]”.
• Example 5:
  • 他的复仇计划非常周密，几乎天衣无缝。
  • Pinyin: Tā de fùchóu jìhuà fēicháng zhōumì, jīhū tiānyīwúfèng.
  • English: His revenge plan was extremely meticulous, almost flawless.
  • Analysis: Using 复仇 as a noun modifying “plan” (计划). This aligns with the cultural idea of revenge being calculated and patient.
• Example 6:
  • 在故事的结尾，主人公放弃了复仇，选择了宽恕。
  • Pinyin: Zài gùshì de jiéwěi, zhǔréngōng fàngqìle fùchóu, xuǎnzéle kuānshù.
  • English: At the end of the story, the protagonist gave up on revenge and chose forgiveness.
  • Analysis: Shows the moral flip-side of revenge. Giving up (放弃) on 复仇 is often portrayed as the more enlightened path.
• Example 7:
  • 警方认为这起案件可能是一次复仇行动。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng rènwéi zhè qǐ ànjiàn kěnéng shì yīcì fùchóu xíngdòng.
  • English: The police believe this case might have been an act of revenge.
  • Analysis: An example of how the term would be used in a serious, real-world context like a news report. “复仇行动” means “a revenge operation/act”.
• Example 8:
  • 冤冤相报何时了，我们不应该陷入复仇的循环。
  • Pinyin: Yuān yuān xiāng bào hé shí liǎo, wǒmen bù yīnggāi xiànrù fùchóu de xúnhuán.
  • English: “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind” (lit., When will the cycle of revenge ever end?), we shouldn't get caught in a cycle of vengeance.
  • Analysis: This uses a famous proverb to argue against the idea of 复仇, framing it as a destructive cycle.
• Example 9:
  • 她被复仇的欲望蒙蔽了双眼。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi fùchóu de yùwàng méngbìle shuāng yǎn.
  • English: She was blinded by the desire for revenge.
  • Analysis: Portrays revenge as a negative, blinding force, a common theme in morality tales.
• Example 10:
  • 古人云：“君子报仇，十年不晚。” 他决定耐心等待复仇的机会。
  • Pinyin: Gǔrén yún: “Jūnzǐ bàochóu, shí nián bù wǎn.” Tā juédìng nàixīn děngdài fùchóu de jīhuì.
  • English: The ancients said: “For a gentleman to take revenge, ten years is not too late.” He decided to patiently wait for an opportunity for revenge.
  • Analysis: Directly quotes the famous proverb to explain a character's patient and calculating mindset.

• Mistake: Using 复仇 for Minor Issues.
  • The most common error for learners is using 复仇 for petty conflicts. It's a “false friend” with the English word “revenge,” which can be used more broadly.
  • Incorrect: 他抢了我的停车位，我要向他复仇！(Tā qiǎngle wǒ de tíngchē wèi, wǒ yào xiàng tā fùchóu!)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds absurdly dramatic, like you're planning a ten-year plot to ruin someone's life over a parking spot.
  • Correct: For this situation, you'd use the more common and less intense word 报复 (bàofù). “我要报复他!” (Wǒ yào bàofù tā!) - “I want to get him back!”
• 复仇 (fùchóu) vs. 报复 (bàofù)
  • 复仇 (fùchóu): Epic, serious, formal, literary. Driven by deep hatred over a grave injustice (murder, betrayal of country/family). Often a lifelong quest.
  • 报复 (bàofù): Retaliation, getting even, payback. Can be for serious or minor things (business competition, social slights, personal arguments). It's more immediate and less “noble.”

Think of it this way: A superhero 复仇s the supervillain who destroyed his city. A company 报复s a rival by launching a competing product.

• 报仇 (bàochóu) - A very close synonym for “to take revenge.” It's often used interchangeably with 复仇, though some feel 报仇 is slightly more focused on the action (“avenging a wrong”) while 复仇 can also refer to the abstract concept (“vengeance”).
• 报复 (bàofù) - To retaliate or get back at someone. This is the term to use for less severe, more immediate forms of payback.
• 仇恨 (chóuhèn) - Hatred, animosity. The deep-seated emotion that fuels the desire for 复仇.
• 敌人 (dírén) - Enemy. The person or group against whom one seeks 复仇.
• 雪耻 (xuěchǐ) - Literally “to wash away shame.” A type of revenge focused on restoring personal or national honor after a great humiliation.
• 君子报仇，十年不晚 (jūnzǐ bàochóu, shí nián bù wǎn) - The famous idiom advising patience and calculation in seeking revenge.
• 冤冤相报何时了 (yuān yuān xiāng bào hé shí liǎo) - A classic proverb that questions the wisdom of revenge, meaning “When will this cycle of injustice and retribution ever end?”
• 武侠 (wǔxiá) - The “martial hero” literary and film genre where 复仇 is a central and recurring plot device.