报答

The Chinese word 报答 (bàodá) is composed of two characters: 报 (bào) and 答 (dá). The character 报 originally meant "to announce" or "to inform", and later extended to mean "to repay" or "to retaliate". The character 答 originally meant "to answer" or "to respond", and later extended to mean "to thank" or "to express gratitude". When combined, the two characters 报答 form a compound word that means "to repay a kindness" or "to express gratitude for a favor".The word 报答 is often used in formal settings to express gratitude for a gift or a favor. It can also be used in a more general sense to express appreciation for someone's help or kindness. For example, you might say 报答父母 (bàodá fùmǔ) to express your gratitude to your parents for raising you, or you might say 报答老师 (bàodá lǎoshī) to express your gratitude to your teacher for educating you.The word 报答 is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. It is an important word to know for HSK learners, as it is a common word that is used in both formal and informal settings.