打一巴掌，给个甜枣 dǎ yī bā zhang ， gěi gè tián zǎo

to hurt then comfort; to punish then reward

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to deal harshly with sb, then offer sth by way of consolation
  2. 2. lit. to give sb a slap, then offer a sweet date (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
打 dǎ HSK 1
to hit; to strike; to beat
一 yī HSK 1
one; 1; single
巴 bā HSK 5
noun suffix; to stick to; bus
掌 zhang HSK 5
palm of the hand; to hold in one's hand; to slap
给 gěi HSK 2
to; for; to give
个 gè HSK 1
classifier for people or objects in general; individual
甜 tián HSK 3
sweet
枣 zǎo
jujube; dates