Chinese word

怨恨

Pronunciation

Pinyinyuàn hèn

Meaning

  • nounresentment

Example

他心里有怨恨，总是抱怨别人。tā xīn lǐ yǒu yuàn hèn zǒng shì bào yuàn bié rén

He harbors resentment and is always blaming others.

Illustration for 怨恨 (resentment)

More examples

时间可以淡化怨恨。shí jiān ké yǐ dàn huà yuàn hèn

Time can lessen resentment.

Core concept

A remembered injury hardens into lasting ill will that can shape a person's behavior.

Common phrases

  • 心存怨恨xīn cún yuàn hèn

    harbor resentment

  • 发泄怨恨fā xiè yuàn hèn

    vent resentment

  • 化解怨恨huà jiě yuàn hèn

    resolve resentment

Similar words

恨hèn: Deep anger and hatred held toward someone who has caused harm.
憎恨zēng hèn: A powerful feeling of hatred mixed with hostility toward someone.
敌意dí yì: An unfriendly attitude that treats another person as an opponent.

Definition in Chinese

因遭受不公或伤害而在内心长期积累的怨念或恨意，经常影响态度和行为。yīn zāo shòu bù gōng huò shāng hài ér zài nèi xīn cháng qī jī lěi de yuàn niàn huò hèn yì jīng cháng yíng xiǎng tài dù hé xíng wéi

Word origin

The compound 怨 (yuàn, "resentment") + 恨 (hèn, "hatred") combines two related feelings to mark hostility that remains after an injury or unfair act.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may treat a complaint as a present reaction, but this word presents the feeling as something carried over from an earlier experience.

Other meanings

  • hatrednoun
  • grudgenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word