A reprisal is something violent or harmful you do on purpose, because someone harmed you first — payback that is meant to punish. It is a hard word.

A reprisalA reprisal is something violent or harmful you do on purpose是你故意做出來的暴力或有害行為， because someone harmed you first因為有人先傷害了你——payback that is meant to punish一種帶著懲罰意味的報復。 It is a hard word這是個很重的字。

You hear it of countries, armies, and armed groups: one side hits, the other answers with a reprisal. You also hear it at work and in politics, often in the plural: people keep quiet for fear of reprisals, meaning they are afraid that if they speak, someone will hurt their job or their name.

You hear it of countries, armies, and armed groups你會在國家、軍隊和武裝團體身上聽到這個字： one side hits一方出手攻擊， the other answers with a reprisal另一方就以reprisal回應。 You also hear it at work and in politics你也會在職場和政治裡聽到它， often in the plural常常用複數形式： people keep quiet for fear of reprisals人們因為害怕reprisals而保持沉默， meaning意思是 they are afraid that if they speak他們害怕如果自己開口， someone will hurt their job or their name就會有人傷害他們的工作或名聲。

It is more than a small “I’ll get you back”; the word carries force, damage, or at least serious cost. Though actually, news writers sometimes stretch it for any sharp payback, even when no one is hurt in the body.

It is more than a small "I'll get you back"它不只是小小的「我會找你算帳」； the word carries force, damage, or at least serious cost這個字帶著武力、傷害，或至少是嚴重的代價。 Though actually不過其實， news writers sometimes stretch it新聞寫手有時候會把這個字用得更寬， for any sharp payback用來說任何激烈的報復， even when no one is hurt in the body即使沒有人真的身體受傷。

It is not surprise, and it is not reprise (a repeat in music, or a return to an old role). The old idea underneath is “taking back” — as if you were seizing something to make the loss even.

It is not surprise它不是surprise（驚喜）， and it is not reprise也不是reprise (a repeat in music, or a return to an old role)（音樂上的重複段落，或回到舊角色）。 The old idea underneath is "taking back"這個字底下古老的想法是「拿回來」—— as if you were seizing something to make the loss even就好像你要奪取一些東西，好讓損失打平。