<p>"quid pro quo " means "a favor or advantage granted or expected in return of something". A literal translation would be 对等交换 (equal exchange)</p>

<p>There are some Chinese idioms similar to it</p>

<p>有來有往 (things go both way)</p>

<p>投桃报李 (repay favor with favor)</p>

<p>礼尚往来 (repay in kind)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>There should always be a quid pro quo. 总是应该有个 ? ? ?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>总是应该有个"对等交换" (literal)</p>

<p>总是应该有个"礼尚往来" (idiomatic)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-19T08:06:58.950Z
Good answer! One thing you want to be more careful may be that use traditional or simplified Chinese, not both.
EXL
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-19T02:35:29.400Z
2016-10-19T02:35:29.400Z
Tang Ho
<p>I think you can translate it into a Chinese saying </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>天下没有免费的午餐。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The literal translation of it is there is no free lunch.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-19T01:46:26.240Z
should be "lunch"
EXL
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-19T05:24:44.737Z
@EmmaXL thank you, I have changed the mistake
Whhhhhhhhy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-19T05:26:15.680Z
@Gangosa Hoped has the help to you:)
Whhhhhhhhy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-19T08:51:47.907Z
Is this sentence really from OLD Chinese? In English the origin is unknown but apparently not old http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/tanstaafl.html It has the help to me :)!
Gangosa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-19T09:08:23.730Z
@Gangosa Sorry about it, I search it just now.It is not from old Chinese.By the way,the original may be a western proverb.
Whhhhhhhhy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-19T14:24:53.297Z
It's ok to write this in an article. But if you are talking or writing to a friend, suggesting a favor for a favor, I think this is a little impolite.
Danying Gao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-19T01:40:48.923Z
2016-10-19T09:09:15.307Z
2016-10-19T09:09:15.307Z
Whhhhhhhhy
<p>There should always be a quid pro quo.
总是应该有个？？？（条件：Maybe I need 条件： condition）</p>

<p>quid pro quo: 抵偿物； 补偿物； 相等物； 代用品; 对价</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-19T02:32:17.233Z
jukuu：１３ example  sentences，iciba 5 example sentences (esp. 互通有无)
user6065
<usage>
Which translation is best for 'quid pro quo'?
# Which translation is best for 'quid pro quo'?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-10-19)

There should always be a quid pro quo.
总是应该有个？？？（条件：Maybe I need 条件： condition）

quid pro quo: 抵偿物； 补偿物； 相等物； 代用品; 对价

**Tags:** usage

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: jukuu：１３ example  sentences，iciba 5 example sentences (esp. 互通有无)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-10-19. Score: 2

"quid pro quo " means "a favor or advantage granted or expected in return of something". A literal translation would be 对等交换 (equal exchange)

There are some Chinese idioms similar to it

有來有往 (things go both way)

投桃报李 (repay favor with favor)

礼尚往来 (repay in kind)

> There should always be a quid pro quo. 总是应该有个 ? ? ?

总是应该有个"对等交换" (literal)

总是应该有个"礼尚往来" (idiomatic)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Good answer! One thing you want to be more careful may be that use traditional or simplified Chinese, not both.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-10-19. Score: 1

I think you can translate it into a Chinese saying

> 天下没有免费的午餐。

The literal translation of it is there is no free lunch.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: should be "lunch"  
> **username_4**: @EmmaXL thank you, I have changed the mistake  
> **username_4**: @username_0 Hoped has the help to you:)  
> **username_0**: Is this sentence really from OLD Chinese? In English the origin is unknown but apparently not old http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/tanstaafl.html It has the help to me :)!  
> **username_4**: @username_0 Sorry about it, I search it just now.It is not from old Chinese.By the way,the original may be a western proverb.  
> **username_5**: It's ok to write this in an article. But if you are talking or writing to a friend, suggesting a favor for a favor, I think this is a little impolite.  

---

