酬 (chóu) - To reward & to repay

酬Tone 2

chóu ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

酬 · chóu

To reward;

to repay;

to reciprocate;

to fulfill (a promise);

to socialize with drinks;

used in words for remuneration and social interaction.

To rewardto repayto reciprocate

Usage highlights

RewardSocial engagementTo repay kindnessRemunerationTo fulfill a wishTo reciprocate a toast

Synonyms

  • 报— to report; to repay
  • 答— to answer; to repay
  • 偿— to compensate; to repay

Antonyms

  • 欠— to owe; to be deficient
  • 取— to take; to receive

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He received a generous reward for his work (报酬).
  • They gathered for a drinking party (应酬).
  • This is my way of repaying your kindness (酬谢).
  • The company offers competitive compensation (酬金).

Collocations

  • Reward(报酬)
  • Social engagement(应酬)
  • To repay kindness(酬谢)
  • Remuneration(酬金)
  • To fulfill a wish(酬愿)
  • To reciprocate a toast(酬酢)

Idioms

  • Toasting back and forth(酬酢往来)
  • According to merit rewarded(按劳酬功)
  • A hero without a place to use his might(壮志未酬)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally related to wine rituals in ancient China, where toasting was a form of social reciprocity.
  • The character embodies the Confucian value of reciprocity and repaying kindness.
  • In business contexts, 酬 often refers to fair compensation for work or services rendered.

FAQ