Chinese word

后悔

Pronunciation

Pinyinhòu huǐ

Meaning

  • verbregret

Example

我很后悔没听你的劝。wǒ hěn hòu huǐ méi tīng nǐ de quàn

I really regret not listening to your advice.

Illustration for 后悔 (regret)

More examples

如果现在不把握机会，将来可能会为错过它而后悔。rú guǒ xiàn zài bù bǎ wò jī huì jiāng lái kě néng huì wèi cuò guò tā ér hòu huǐ

If you do not seize the opportunity now, you may regret missing it in the future.

Core concept

The mind returns to an earlier act or omission and suffers because it cannot undo the choice.

Common phrases

  • 为错过机会后悔wèi cuò guò jī huì hòu huǐ

    regret missing an opportunity

  • 后悔自己的冲动决定hòu huǐ zì jǐ de chōng dòng jué dìng

    regret one's impulsive decision

  • 后悔得很hòu huǐ de hěn

    regret deeply

Similar words

自责zì zé: To blame oneself for an action and feel that one has done something wrong.
忏悔chàn huǐ: To admit a wrong action, sincerely express remorse, and want to change.
惋惜wǎn xī: To feel sorry about a loss or missed opportunity.

Definition in Chinese

对过去做过或没做的事感到懊恼和遗憾，并伴随一定程度的自我责备。duì guò qù zuò guò huò méi zuò de shì gǎn dào ào nǎo hé yí hàn bìng bàn suí yí dìng chéng dù de zì wǒ zé bèi

Word origin

后 (hòu, "after") marks the later point when 悔 (huǐ, "feel remorse") appears, making the word a clear picture of remorse after the event.

Usage tips

  • English uses regret + -ing to look back at a past action, while regret + to-infinitive often introduces bad news, so the verb has two useful everyday patterns.

Other meanings

  • remorsenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 后悔莫及hòu huǐ mò jíregret it when it is too lateidiom

Word lists with this word