Japanese Conversation · Level 103
60 words
Japanese word
悔やむ
Pronunciation
Romajikuyamu
Meaning
- verbregret
Example
あの言葉を言ったことを悔やみます。a no koto ba o i tta ko to o ku ya mi ma su
I regret saying those words.
More examples
彼はその機会を逃したことを悔やみました。kare wa so no ki kai o noga shi ta ko to o ku ya mi ma shi ta
He regretted missing the opportunity.
Core concept
It expresses a painful feeling that a past event should have been different, including sorrow over a loss.
Common phrases
決断を悔やむketsu dan o ku ya mu
regret a decision
言動を悔やむgen dō o ku ya mu
regret one's actions
過ちを悔やむayama chi o ku ya mu
regret a mistake
Similar words
後悔するkōkaisuru: To feel sorry about a past action or decision and wish it had been different.
惜しむoshimu: To feel sorrow about a loss or missed chance and wish it had not happened.
悼むitamu: To mourn a person who has died and express sorrow for the loss.
Definition in Japanese
過去のことを思い返し、そうしなければよかった、または失わなければよかったと悲しむ。ka ko no ko to o omo i kae shi sō shi na ke re ba yo ka tta ma ta wa ushina wa na ke re ba yo ka tta to kana shi mu
Word origin
悔やむ (kuyamu) developed from the native Japanese verb 悔ゆ (kuyu), meaning "to regret" or "to grieve"; the modern form retains both ideas of regret and sorrow.
Usage tips
- In Japanese, 悔やむ (kuyamu) can describe regret about something a person did and grief about someone's death, giving the verb a wider range than regret alone.