報 (bào) - To report & to inform

報Tone 4

bào ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

報 · bào

To report;

to inform;

to announce;

to repay;

to require;

to respond;

to recompense;

also refers to a newspaper or periodical.

To reportto informto announce

Usage highlights

NewspaperReportRepay a kindnessInformRevengeRequite

Synonyms

  • 告— to tell, inform
  • 答— to answer, repay
  • 酬— to reward, repay

Antonyms

  • 怨— to resent, complain (antonym in the context of repaying kindness)
  • 仇— enmity, hatred (antonym in the context of repaying good)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He reads the newspaper every morning (读报).
  • I need to report this to the police (报警).
  • She repaid his kindness (报答他的好意).
  • The company issued its annual report (年度报告).

Collocations

  • Newspaper(报纸)
  • Report(报告)
  • Repay a kindness(报答)
  • Inform(报信)
  • Revenge(报仇)
  • Requite(报恩)

Idioms

  • Requite like with like(以德报怨)
  • A just Heaven will repay(天理报应)
  • Report good news(报喜不报忧)
  • Repay a debt of gratitude(感恩图报)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character embodies the concept of reciprocity and retribution, central to traditional Chinese ethics.
  • Historically linked to official announcements and gazettes, evolving to mean modern newspapers.
  • In Buddhism and folk belief, it relates to the idea of karmic retribution (报应).

FAQ