bàochóu: 报仇 - To Take Revenge, To Avenge

• Keywords: bàochóu, 报仇, revenge in Chinese, Chinese word for avenge, take revenge, get even in Chinese, 报仇 meaning, how to say revenge in Chinese, wuxia, Chinese culture, Chinese justice
• Summary: Learn the meaning of bàochóu (报仇), the powerful Chinese word for taking revenge or avenging a great wrong. This guide explores its deep cultural significance in China, often seen in stories of heroes and martial arts (wuxia), and explains how it differs from simple “payback.” Understand how to use this dramatic term correctly in context, with many practical example sentences for beginner and intermediate learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bàochóu
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To take revenge for a serious grievance or to avenge a wrong done to oneself or others.
• In a Nutshell: 报仇 (bàochóu) is not about petty arguments. It's a “heavy” word used for righting a deep and serious injustice, like avenging a murdered family member or clearing the name of a wrongly disgraced teacher. Think of it as the kind of revenge you see in epic movies—it’s driven by a sense of justice and honor, not just anger.

• 报 (bào): This character means “to report” or “to announce,” but here it carries the meaning of “to repay” or “to reciprocate.” It implies that an action is being returned—a debt is being paid.
• 仇 (chóu): This character means “hatred,” “enmity,” or “enemy.” It signifies a deep, long-standing hostility, not a fleeting annoyance.

When combined, 报仇 (bàochóu) literally translates to “repaying a hatred.” This perfectly captures the concept: an action taken to settle a score born from a profound wrong or deep-seated enmity.

In Chinese culture, 报仇 (bàochóu) is a powerful and recurring theme, especially in literature and film.

• Wuxia (武侠) and the Hero's Quest: The concept is central to the wuxia or “martial hero” genre. A classic storyline involves a young protagonist whose parents or master are killed by a villain. The protagonist then endures years of hardship and training with the sole purpose of becoming strong enough to 报仇. In this context, revenge is not seen as purely negative; it's often framed as a moral duty tied to filial piety (孝, xiào) and righteousness (义, yì). It's about restoring a family's honor and ensuring justice is served.
• “Righteous” Revenge vs. Western “Vengeance”: While the English word “revenge” can have a negative connotation of a destructive, personal vendetta, 报仇 can carry a sense of righteousness. It's often about balancing the scales of justice when the system has failed. This contrasts with the Western proverb, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” While Chinese culture also recognizes the destructive nature of hatred, fulfilling the duty of 报仇 can be portrayed as a noble, albeit tragic, act.
• Patience and Planning: The famous saying 君子报仇，十年不晚 (jūnzǐ bàochóu, shí nián bù wǎn) — “For a noble person to take revenge, ten years is not too late” — highlights a key cultural value. It suggests that true, effective revenge is not a rash, emotional act but one that is patient, calculated, and meticulously planned.

报仇 (bàochóu) is a dramatic word and is not frequently used in casual, everyday conversation for minor issues.

• Serious Contexts: You will hear it used seriously when discussing history, literature, or films. For example, discussing a character's motivation in a TV drama.
• Hyperbole and Joking: Among close friends, it can be used hyperbolically for comedic effect. Saying you will 报仇 because a friend ate the last dumpling is an intentional exaggeration that everyone understands is a joke. The humor comes from using such a “heavy” word for something so trivial.
• Connotation: The connotation is almost always serious and intense. Even when used as a joke, it relies on that underlying intensity for its effect. It is neither formal nor informal, but rather “dramatic.”

• Example 1:
  • 他发誓要为他死去的父亲报仇。
  • Pinyin: Tā fāshì yào wèi tā sǐqù de fùqīn bàochóu.
  • English: He swore to avenge his dead father.
  • Analysis: This is the classic, most common usage of 报仇, linking it to family honor and a deep injustice.
• Example 2:
  • 在这部电影里，主角的唯一目标就是报仇。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhè bù diànyǐng lǐ, zhǔjué de wéiyī mùbiāo jiùshì bàochóu.
  • English: In this movie, the protagonist's only goal is to take revenge.
  • Analysis: This shows how 报仇 can function as the central motivation in a narrative.
• Example 3:
  • 君子报仇，十年不晚。
  • Pinyin: Jūnzǐ bàochóu, shí nián bù wǎn.
  • English: A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years; it's never too late.
  • Analysis: A famous proverb that is often quoted. It highlights the cultural value of patience and strategy over rash emotion.
• Example 4:
  • 你吃了我最后一块披萨，我一定要向你报仇！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ chīle wǒ zuìhòu yí kuài pīsà, wǒ yídìng yào xiàng nǐ bàochóu!
  • English: You ate my last slice of pizza, I will definitely get my revenge on you!
  • Analysis: This is a clear example of hyperbolic, joking usage among friends. The use of the serious word 报仇 for a trivial matter is what makes it funny.
• Example 5:
  • 他为了报仇，准备了整整二十年。
  • Pinyin: Tā wèile bàochóu, zhǔnbèile zhěngzhěng èrshí nián.
  • English: In order to take revenge, he prepared for a full twenty years.
  • Analysis: The preposition 为了 (wèile) means “in order to,” clearly stating 报仇 as the purpose of his long-term actions.
• Example 6:
  • 你真的认为报仇之后你就会感到快乐吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhēnde rènwéi bàochóu zhīhòu nǐ jiù huì gǎndào kuàilè ma?
  • English: Do you really think you will feel happy after taking revenge?
  • Analysis: This sentence poses a philosophical question about the ultimate satisfaction of revenge, a common theme in stories.
• Example 7:
  • 他被仇恨蒙蔽了双眼，一心只想报仇。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi chóuhèn méngbìle shuāng yǎn, yìxīn zhǐ xiǎng bàochóu.
  • English: He was blinded by hatred, single-mindedly focused only on taking revenge.
  • Analysis: This example shows the potentially negative and all-consuming nature of the desire for 报仇.
• Example 8:
  • 这支球队发誓要在下一场比赛中报仇，赢得胜利。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhī qiúduì fāshì yào zài xià yì chǎng bǐsài zhōng bàochóu, yíngdé shènglì.
  • English: This team vowed to get revenge in the next match and win.
  • Analysis: In a sports context, 报仇 is a less serious but still dramatic way to say “avenge a previous loss.” It's stronger than just saying “we want to win.”
• Example 9:
  • 为国报仇是古代将军的荣誉。
  • Pinyin: Wèi guó bàochóu shì gǔdài jiāngjūn de róngyù.
  • English: Avenging the nation was an honor for generals in ancient times.
  • Analysis: This shows how the object of vengeance can be larger than a person, such as a country (国).
• Example 10:
  • 与其把时间花在报仇上，不如创造一个更好的未来。
  • Pinyin: Yǔqí bǎ shíjiān huā zài bàochóu shàng, bùrú chuàngzào yí ge gèng hǎo de wèilái.
  • English: Rather than spending time on revenge, it's better to create a better future.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the “与其 A, 不如 B” (yǔqí A, bùrú B) structure, meaning “rather than A, it's better to do B,” offering a moral alternative to revenge.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 报仇 (bàochóu) with 报复 (bàofù). They are not interchangeable.

• 报仇 (bàochóu) - To Avenge:
  • Scale: Major, deep, serious wrongs (e.g., murder, betrayal of one's country, destruction of a family).
  • Connotation: Often has a “righteous” or “justified” feel. It's about restoring honor or justice.
  • Example: A son avenging his father's death is 报仇.
• 报复 (bàofù) - To Retaliate / Get Back At:
  • Scale: Can be used for smaller, more general slights (e.g., a colleague sabotaging your work, a company undercutting a competitor).
  • Connotation: Neutral to negative. It's closer to “retaliation” or “getting even” and lacks the moral weight of 报仇.
  • Example: A company launching a price war to hurt a competitor is 报复.
• Incorrect Usage:
  • `INCORRECT:` 我的同事在老板面前说我坏话，我要报仇他。 (My colleague spoke ill of me to the boss, I want to bàochóu him.)
  • `Why it's wrong:` This situation is a workplace slight, not a deep, life-altering injustice. It sounds overly dramatic and strange.
  • `CORRECT:` 我的同事在老板面前说我坏话，我要报复他。 (My colleague spoke ill of me to the boss, I want to get back at him.)

• 报复 (bàofù) - To retaliate. A more general and less severe term for getting back at someone.
• 复仇 (fùchóu) - To take revenge. A more formal and literary synonym for 报仇, often used as a noun, as in “a story of vengeance (复仇的故事).”
• 仇恨 (chóuhèn) - Hatred, animosity. The deep-seated emotion that drives the desire to 报仇.
• 敌人 (dírén) - Enemy. The target of one's 报仇.
• 雪耻 (xuěchǐ) - To wipe away shame/humiliation. Similar to 报仇, but focuses on restoring honor, often in a national or collective context (e.g., avenging a military defeat).
• 冤枉 (yuānwang) - To be wronged; an injustice. The initial grievance that often leads to a quest for 报仇.
• 武侠 (wǔxiá) - The “martial hero” genre of Chinese fiction where 报仇 is a core thematic element.
• 以德报怨 (yǐ dé bào yuàn) - To repay hatred with virtue. The philosophical antonym to 报仇, representing forgiveness and magnanimity.