还礼

還禮

huánlǐ

verb #98,636

Meanings

1 to return a gift
2 to reciprocate a courtesy
3 to return a salute

Characters

to return; to give back

Examples

他结婚我随了份礼，现在轮到我女儿结婚，他也来还礼了。

Tā jiéhūn wǒ suí le fèn lǐ, xiànzài lúndào wǒ nǚ'ér jiéhūn, tā yě lái huánlǐ le.

I gave him a wedding gift when he got married; now that my daughter is marrying, he came to return the favor.

队长敬礼，全队整齐地还礼。

Duìzhǎng jìnglǐ, quánduì zhěngqí de huánlǐ.

The captain saluted and the entire squad returned the salute in unison.

Tips

culture

In Chinese gift-giving tradition, 还礼 maintains 礼尚往来 ('courtesy demands reciprocity'). At weddings and funerals, 随礼 (give cash gift) and 还礼 (reciprocate later) are tracked informally across households.

Stroke Order

还 hái

礼 lǐ