反哺

Chinese

FWOTD – 20 June 2016

		wrong side out or up; anti-	feed
trad. (反哺)		反	哺
simp. #(反哺)		反	哺
alternative forms		返哺

Etymology

Originally referred to a raven that would provide food to its mother after becoming an adult. Emperor Wu of Liang [6th century]:

靈蛇銜珠以酬德，慈烏反哺以報親，在蟲鳥其尚爾，況三才之令人。 [MSC, trad.]

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灵蛇衔珠以酬德，慈乌反哺以报亲，在虫鸟其尚尔，况三才之令人。 [MSC, simp.]

Língshé xián zhū yǐ chóudé, cíwū fǎnbǔ yǐ bàoqīn, zài chóngniǎo qí shàng ěr, kuàng sāncái zhī lìngrén. [Pinyin]

The mystic snake holds a pearl in its mouth to show gratitude; the raven feeds its parents to repay their kindness. It's as such even in lower animals and birds, let alone the virtuous men.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): fǎnbǔ

  (Zhuyin): ㄈㄢˇ ㄅㄨˇ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): faan² bou⁶

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: fǎnbǔ [Phonetic: fánbǔ]
    • Zhuyin: ㄈㄢˇ ㄅㄨˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: fǎnbǔ
    • Wade–Giles: fan³-pu³
    • Yale: fǎn-bǔ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: faanbuu
    • Palladius: фаньбу (fanʹbu)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /fän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: faan² bou⁶
    • Yale: fáan bouh
    • Cantonese Pinyin: faan² bou⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: fan² bou⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /faːn³⁵ pou̯²²/

Verb

反哺

1. to take care of one's parents when they are old; to show filial piety

   他們很多人心底，都有反哺父母的強烈願望。 [MSC, trad.]
   他们很多人心底，都有反哺父母的强烈愿望。 [MSC, simp.]

   From: 2005: anon., http://szlife.oeeee.com

   Tāmen hěn duō rén xīndǐ, dōu yǒu fǎnbǔ fùmǔ de qiángliè yuànwàng. [Pinyin]

   In their hearts, a lot of them have a strong desire to take care of their parents when they are old.

2. to give back to a person or institution which has contributed to one's own growth

   從農業支援工業到工業反哺農業，…… [MSC, trad.]
   从农业支援工业到工业反哺农业，…… [MSC, simp.]

   From: 2005: anon., http://finance.sina.com.cn

   cóng nóngyè zhīyuán gōngyè dào gōngyè fǎnbǔ nóngyè,...... [Pinyin]

   From agriculture supporting industry to industry giving back to agriculture ...

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (反哺):

• → Japanese: 反哺(はんぽ) (hanpo)
• → Korean: 반포(反哺) (banpo)
• → Vietnamese: phản bộ (反哺)