Chinese word

悔恨

Pronunciation

Pinyinhuǐ hèn

Meaning

  • nounregret

Example

他感到深深的悔恨。tā gǎn dào shēn shēn de huǐ hèn

He feels deep regret.

Illustration for 悔恨 (regret)

More examples

多年后，他仍被对当时决定的悔恨所折磨。duō nián hòu tā réng bèi duì dāng shí jué dìng de huǐ hèn suǒ zhé mó

Years later, he is still tormented by regret over that decision.

Core concept

A lasting wound of conscience caused by a past action or choice.

Common phrases

  • 对过去的悔恨duì guò qù de huǐ hèn

    regret over the past

  • 难以释怀的悔恨nán yǐ shì huái de huǐ hèn

    lingering regret

  • 充满悔恨chōng mǎn huǐ hèn

    filled with regret

Similar words

后悔hòu huǐ: A feeling of regret about a past action or decision, often with a wish to change it.
内疚nèi jiù: A guilty feeling caused by believing that one's actions have harmed another person.
自责zì zé: A feeling of blaming oneself for a mistake or wrong action.
懊悔ào huǐ: Strong regret over a mistake or failure, with sorrow that it happened.

Definition in Chinese

对已经发生的行为或决定感到深切的懊悔与自责，常伴随内疚和痛苦。duì yǐ jīng fā shēng de xíng wéi huò jué dìng gǎn dào shēn qiè de ào huǐ yǔ zì zé cháng bàn suí nèi jiù hé tòng kǔ

Word origin

The compound joins 悔 (huǐ, "regret") with 恨 (hèn, "resentment") to portray regret that has deepened into painful self-reproach.

Usage tips

  • It marks deep self-blame over a past choice, so it sounds much heavier than a brief feeling of having chosen badly.

Other meanings

  • remorsenoun
  • self-reproachnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 悔恨感huǐ hèn gǎnfeeling of regretnoun
  • 悔恨不已huǐ hèn bù yǐbe consumed by regretidiom

Word lists with this word