Japanese word

後悔

Pronunciation

Romajikōkai

Meaning

  • nounregret

Example

昨日、宿題をしなくて後悔しました。kinō shuku dai o shi na ku te kō kai shi ma shi ta

I regretted not doing my homework yesterday.

Illustration for 後悔 (regret)

More examples

もっと早く相談しなかったことを後悔しています。mo tto haya ku sō dan shi na ka tta ko to o kō kai shi te i ma su

I regret not asking for advice sooner.

Core concept

Regret is the feeling that a past action or choice should have been different.

Common phrases

  • 後悔するkō kai su ru

    regret

  • 後悔の念kō kai no nen

    feeling of regret

  • 後悔しないkō kai shi na i

    not regret

Similar words

悔いkui: A feeling of regret about a past action, choice, or missed chance.
心残りkokoronokori: A feeling of regret that remains because something was not completed or resolved.

Definition in Japanese

過去の自分の行動や選択を振り返り、そうしなければよかったと思う気持ち。ka ko no ji bun no kō dō ya sen taku o fu ri kae ri sō shi na ke re ba yo ka tta to omo u ki mo chi

Word origin

後悔 (kōkai) combines 後 (kō, "after") and 悔 (kai, "regret"), expressing regret that arises after an action or choice.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, 後悔 (kōkai) often appears in the pattern 後悔する (kōkai suru), which turns the noun into the verb "to regret".

Word lists with this word