# 投桃报李

tóu táo bào lǐ

Return a kindness

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Give a peach and receive a plum

**Traditional Chinese:** 投桃報李

**Register:** Warm · literary

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Use for reciprocating goodwill or generosity.

It is about reciprocity, not an exact exchange of equal-priced goods.

## Behind the words

The Book of Songs pairs a gift of a peach with a return gift of a plum. The simple exchange becomes an image of reciprocal kindness.

The exchanged peach and plum represent reciprocity, without requiring identical gifts or equal prices. Modern use describes answering a kind act with another kind act. The tone is usually warm and appreciative. It should not be used to disguise a bribe or imply that every relationship is an accounting exercise; the emphasis is on goodwill remembered and returned.

## Examples

你上次帮了我，这次我也想投桃报李。

### Traditional Chinese

你上次幫了我，這次我也想投桃報李。

nǐ shàng cì bāng le wǒ ， zhè cì wǒ yě xiǎng tóu táo bào lǐ 。

You helped me last time; now I’d like to return the kindness.

她上次帮我搬家，这次我替她照顾猫，算是投桃报李。

### Traditional Chinese

她上次幫我搬家，這次我替她照顧貓，算是投桃報李。

tā shàng cì bāng wǒ bān jiā ， zhè cì wǒ tì tā zhào gù māo ， suàn shì tóu táo bào lǐ 。

She helped me move; looking after her cat this time returns the kindness.

收到朋友寄来的书，他投桃报李，寄回了家乡的茶叶。

### Traditional Chinese

收到朋友寄來的書，他投桃報李，寄回了家鄉的茶葉。

shōu dào péng yǒu jì lái de shū ， tā tóu táo bào lǐ ， jì huí le jiā xiāng de chá yè 。

After receiving books from his friend, he returned the gesture with tea from home.

他们帮助过我们，我们也应该投桃报李。

### Traditional Chinese

他們幫助過我們，我們也應該投桃報李。

tā men bāng zhù guò wǒ men ， wǒ men yě yīng gāi tóu táo bào lǐ 。

They have helped us, and we should return their kindness.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=307&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%8A%95%E6%A1%83%E5%A0%B1%E6%9D%8E)

## Keep exploring

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- [忘恩负义 wàng ēn fù yì Betray someone who has helped you ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wang-en-fu-yi)

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