The Quote:
「以德報怨，何以報德」
(yǐ dé bào yuàn, hé yǐ bào dé)
It means:
“If you repay resentment with kindness, what will you repay kindness with?”
— Confucius
Now let’s learn how to pronounce it using simple English sounds + tone tricks. Yes, you can do it!
Step-by-Step Pronunciation Guide (with Tones):
| Chinese | Pinyin | Tone | Like in English | Tone Tip (Emotion) |
| 以 | yǐ | 3 | yee | Falling-then-rising (like you’re thinking: “Hmm?”) |
| 德 | dé | 2 | duh | Rising tone (like asking “Really?”) |
| 報 | bào | 4 | bow (as in “take a bow”) | Sharp falling (like saying “No!”) |
| 怨 | yuàn | 4 | ywen (quick “yoo-en”) | Sharp falling again |
| 何 | hé | 2 | huh (polite, curious) | Rising (as in “Huh?”) |
| 以 | yǐ | 3 | yee | Falling-then-rising again |
| 報 | bào | 4 | bow | Sharp falling again |
| 德 | dé | 2 | duh | Rising again |
🗣️ Say It With Rhythm:
Try it like this (add light rhythm with your hands or head):
yeeˇ – duh́ – boẁ – yweǹ, huh́ – yeeˇ – boẁ – duh́
(降升 – 升 – 降 – 降，升 – 降升 – 降 – 升)
🔁 Quick Practice Version:
“Yee duh bow ywen, huh yee bow duh”
(Say it slowly first, then try saying it smoother)
✅ Pro Tips:
- Tone 3 (ˇ) = “thinking” tone — down then up, like “Hmm?”
- Tone 2 (´) = questioning tone — upward, like “Really?”
- Tone 4 (`) = commanding tone — quick and strong, like “No!”
This ancient line is not only wise, it’s also a perfect introduction to the beauty of Chinese tones.
Want to sound even more natural? Try recording yourself and mimic native audio. Or ask a friend to say it with you!