悔恨

huǐ hèn

remorse

HSK 6

Character Breakdown

Understanding 悔恨

The word 悔恨 (huǐhèn) expresses a strong feeling of remorse or regret, often mixed with a sense of self-blame or sorrow for past actions. It is more intense than simple regret and usually implies a deep emotional burden.

Usage in Conversation

悔恨 is commonly used to describe feelings about serious mistakes or missed opportunities. It often appears in contexts where someone reflects on their past decisions with sadness or guilt.

Common Collocations

These collocations emphasize the intensity and persistence of the feeling.

Nuances and Tips

悔恨 carries a heavier emotional weight than 后悔 (hòuhuǐ), which is more general regret. Use 悔恨 when you want to express profound sorrow or guilt. It is often found in formal or literary contexts but can also appear in everyday speech when emphasizing strong remorse.

Avoid confusing 悔恨 with alone, which means 'to hate' or 'resent'. 悔恨 specifically relates to regret and remorse, not hatred.

Example Sentences

他对过去的错误感到深深的悔恨。

Tā duì guòqù de cuòwù gǎndào shēnshēn de huǐhèn.

He feels deep remorse for his past mistakes.

悔恨让她夜不能寐,反复思考当时的决定。

Huǐhèn ràng tā yè bù néng mèi, fǎnfù sīkǎo dāngshí de juédìng.

Remorse kept her awake at night, repeatedly thinking about the decision she

他试图用行动来减轻内心的悔恨。

Tā shìtú yòng xíngdòng lái jiǎnqīng nèixīn de huǐhèn.

He tried to ease his inner remorse through his actions.