Línjū sòng lái niángāo, wǒmen mǎi le shuǐguǒ dálǐ.
The neighbours brought us new year cake, so we bought fruit to reciprocate.
Tips
culture
Embodies the Confucian principle 礼尚往来 (lǐ shàng wǎng lái) — 'in propriety, exchange is valued'. Failing to 答礼 a gift or salute is read as rude or as deliberately ending the relationship.
usage
Two senses: (1) returning a physical bow/salute on the spot, (2) sending a return gift later. Context disambiguates — 鞠躬答礼 = bow back; 买礼物答礼 = give a return gift.
