以牙还牙

以牙還牙

yǐyá-huányá

idiom #11,634

Meanings

1 a tooth for a tooth
2 to retaliate in kind
3 tit for tat

Characters

to return; to repay

Examples

HSK 3

他决定以牙还牙。

Tā juédìng yǐyá-huányá.

He decided to fight fire with fire.

HSK 3

以牙还牙不能解决问题。

Yǐyá-huányá bùnéng jiějué wèntí.

An eye for an eye doesn't solve problems.

Tips

usage

Often paired with 以眼还眼 (an eye for an eye). The full phrase 以眼还眼，以牙还牙 mirrors the Biblical/Quranic expression.

Stroke Order

以 yǐ

牙 yá

还 hái