Chinese word

遗憾

Pronunciation

Pinyinyí hàn

Meaning

  • adjectiveregrettable

Example

真遗憾你不能来。zhēn yí hàn nǐ bù néng lái

It is really regrettable that you cannot come.

Illustration for 遗憾 (regrettable)

More examples

听到这个消息，我感到遗憾。tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xī wǒ gǎn dào yí hàn

Hearing this news, I feel sorry.

Core concept

A hoped-for outcome falls short, leaving a quiet sense of loss that remains in the mind.

Common phrases

  • 感到遗憾gǎn dào yí hàn

    feel sorry about

  • 非常遗憾fēi cháng yí hàn

    very regrettable

  • 令人遗憾lìng rén yí hàn

    regrettable

Similar words

可惜kě xī: Unfortunate when a good chance or valued result is lost or goes to waste.

Definition in Chinese

对已经发生的损失或未能达到期望的结果感到惋惜，在心中留有无法释怀的念头。duì yǐ jīng fā shēng de sǔn shī huò wèi néng dá dào qī wàng de jié guǒ gǎn dào wǎn xī zài xīn zhōng liú yǒu wú fǎ shì huái de niàn tou

Word origin

遗憾 (yíhàn, "regrettable") combines 遗 (yí, "to leave behind") with 憾 (hàn, "regret"), evoking a missed result that leaves regret behind.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 遗憾 (yíhàn, "a feeling about an unfortunate outcome") often comments on a situation rather than admitting personal fault, unlike many English apologies.

Other meanings

  • feel sorry aboutverb
  • a shamenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 遗憾地yí hàn dìregrettablyadverb
  • 遗憾之至yí hàn zhī zhìextremely regrettableidiom

Word lists with this word