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

HSK 6

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.

HSK 7-9

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