trả nghĩa
Definition
- Verb:
- To repay a debt of gratitude: To perform an action or give something in return for kindness, help, or a favor received, in order to fulfill a moral or social obligation.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ấy đã giúp tôi rất nhiều, tôi muốn tìm cách trả nghĩa. (He helped me a great deal; I want to find a way to repay his kindness.)
- Cô ấy chăm sóc người bệnh để trả nghĩa cho sự giúp đỡ trước đây. (She takes care of the sick person to repay the debt of gratitude for past help.)
Advanced Usage
- The concept is deeply rooted in Confucian values regarding reciprocal relationships and social bonds. It implies a moral duty rather than a formal transaction.
Variants and Related Words
- Đền ơn (v): to repay a favor, to require. Often used interchangeably with "trả nghĩa," though "đền ơn" can sometimes imply a more direct/material repayment.
- Họ làm việc đó để đền ơn cứu mạng. (They did that to repay the life-saving favor.)
Synonyms
- Repay a moral debt: To return a favor or kindness out of obligation.
- Requite: To make appropriate return for (a kindness, service, etc.).
Related Idioms
- Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây: Literally "When eating the fruit, remember the planter." This idiom expresses the idea of gratitude and the duty to remember and repay one's benefactors, closely related to the sentiment behind "trả nghĩa."
- Câu tục ngữ "ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây" dạy chúng ta phải biết trả nghĩa. (The proverb "when eating the fruit, remember the planter" teaches us to know how to repay gratitude.)