return good for evil; repay injury with kindness
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to return good for evil; to repay injury with kindness; to turn the other cheek
formalA classical idiom originating from ancient Chinese philosophical texts. While often associated with Confucian ethics, it notably appears in the Analects (14:34) where Confucius actually distinguishes this approach from his preferred '以直报怨' (repaying injury with uprightness/fairness). The phrase represents an ideal of extreme moral magnanimity and forgiveness.
He treated me so badly, yet I returned good for evil and helped him out.
The teacher taught us to learn to repay injury with kindness and not to haggle over every little thing.
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Faced with the enemy's insults, he chose to turn the other cheek, demonstrating noble character.
In this story, the protagonist returned good for evil and eventually reformed his enemy.