Chinese word

宽恕

Pronunciation

Pinyinkuān shù

Meaning

  • verbforgive

Example

我不能宽恕他的背叛。wǒ bù néng kuān shù tā de bèi pàn

I cannot forgive his betrayal.

Illustration for 宽恕 (forgive)

More examples

她最终选择宽恕曾经伤害她的人。tā zuì zhōng xuǎn zé kuān shù céng jīng shāng hài tā de rén

She finally chose to forgive the person who once hurt her.

Core concept

Make the heart broad enough to release a wrong and stop holding it against the person.

Common phrases

  • 请求宽恕qǐng qiú kuān shù

    ask for forgiveness

  • 宽恕别人kuān shù bié rén

    forgive others

  • 宽恕自己kuān shù zì jǐ

    forgive oneself

Similar words

原谅yuán liàng: To forgive a person for an error or hurtful act without continuing to blame them.
饶恕ráo shù: To forgive a grave wrong in a religious or moral context.
赦免shè miǎn: To officially remove a person's punishment through a state or court decision.

Definition in Chinese

从内心放下怨恨，对他人的过失或罪行表示赦免，不再追究。cóng nèi xīn fàng xià yuàn hèn duì tā rén de guò shī huò zuì xíng biǎo shì shè miǎn bú zài zhuī jiū

Word origin

The compound 宽恕 (kuānshù, "forgive") is formed from 宽 (kuān, "broad") + 恕 (shù, "forgive"), linking a spacious heart with release from blame.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this verb often sounds formal and weighty, so it fits a serious breach of trust better than a small everyday mistake.

Other meanings

  • spareverb
  • pardonverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word