Word

偿还 (cháng huán) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

Meaning of 偿还

动 dòng verb

to repay

我们会按时偿还债务。

wǒ men huì àn shí cháng huán zhài wù

We will repay the debt on time.

Word breakdown

偿 cháng — to compensate, to fulfill (an obligation)

1 补偿 bǔ cháng — to compensate HSK 6
- 补 to make up, to supplement
- 偿 to repay, to pay back
Example

公司会补偿你的损失。

gōng sī huì bǔ cháng nǐ de sǔn shī

The company will compensate for your losses.
2 赔偿 péi cháng — compensate HSK 6
- 赔 to pay for loss
- 偿 to repay
Example

法院判决被告赔偿原告十万元。

fǎ yuàn pàn jué bèi gào péi cháng yuán gào shí wàn yuán

The court ruled that the defendant compensate the plaintiff 100,000 yuan.
3 如愿以偿 rú yuàn yǐ cháng — to have one's wish fulfilled HSK 7
- 如 according to, as
- 愿 wish, desire
- 以 by means of, thereby
- 偿 to fulfill, to satisfy
Example

经过多年的努力，他终于如愿以偿考上了理想的大学。

jīng guò duō nián de nǔ lì tā zhōng yú rú yuàn yǐ cháng kǎo shàng le lǐ xiǎng de dà xué

After years of effort, he finally had his wish fulfilled and was admitted to his ideal university.
4 得不偿失 dé bù cháng shī — the gains do not make up for the losses; not worth the cost HSK 7
- 得 gain, obtain
- 不 not, negation
- 偿 compensate, make up for
- 失 loss, lose
Example

熬夜学习虽然多记住了些东西，但损害了健康，得不偿失。

áo yè xué xí suī rán duō jì zhù le xiē dōng xi dàn sǔn hài le jiàn kāng dé bù cháng shī

Although staying up late to study helps you remember more things, it harms your health—the losses outweigh the gains.
5 无偿 wú cháng — free of charge HSK 7
- 无 without, no
- 偿 compensation, payment
Example

律师提供了无偿法律咨询。

lǜ shī tí gōng le wú cháng fǎ lǜ zī xún

The lawyer provided free legal consultation.

还 huán — to return, to give back

1 退还 tuì huán — return, refund HSK 5
- 退 withdraw, return back
- 还 return, give back
Example

商店同意退还全部货款。

shāng diàn tóng yì tuì huán quán bù huò kuǎn

The store agreed to refund the full payment.
2 归还 guī huán — return HSK 6
- 归 to return, to go back (to original place/owner)
- 还 to give back, to restore
Example

我明天会归还你的书。

wǒ míng tiān huì guī huán nǐ de shū

I will return your book tomorrow.
3 还原 huán yuán — to restore; to reduce (chemistry) HSK 6
- 还 to return, to give back
- 原 original state, origin
Example

这部电影真实地还原了历史事件。

zhè bù diàn yǐng zhēn shí de huán yuán le lì shǐ shì jiàn

This film authentically restored the historical events.
4 讨价还价 tǎo jià huán jià — bargain, haggle HSK 7
- 讨 to ask for, to propose (a price)
- 价 price (the asking price)
- 还 to return, to counter-offer
- 价 price (the counter-price)
Example

在市场上买东西时，你可以讨价还价。

zài shì chǎng shàng mǎi dōng xi shí nǐ kě yǐ tǎo jià huán jià

When buying things at the market, you can bargain.
5 返还 fǎn huán — to return, give back HSK 7
- 返 return (directional movement back)
- 还 give back (restore to owner)
Example

他们会返还你的押金。

tā men huì fǎn huán nǐ de yā jīn

They will return your deposit.