The Story
English
The Book of Songs records: "You throw me a peach; I return you a plum."
The phrase "投桃报李" (throwing a peach, returning a plum) became the Chinese idiom for reciprocity in kindness — the natural desire to return a favor with a favor, a gift with a gift.
中文
投我以桃，报之以李。
Original Classical Chinese · 原文
投我以桃，报之以李。
Reflection & Analysis · 寓意解读
Core Wisdom
Kindness creates kindness. The peach you give today returns as a plum tomorrow. The cycle of generosity is the foundation of all good relationships.
This is the positive form of the reciprocity principle. Unlike "己所不欲勿施于人" (the negative golden rule), "投桃报李" is about active generosity — not just avoiding harm, but initiating good. The exchange of fruit is symbolic: the gifts need not be equal, but the gesture must be mutual.