Definitions

hèn (verb) to hate
hèn (verb) to regret

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 恨 is structured with the heart radical 心 on the left, indicating its connection to internal emotions, and the component 艮 on the right, which primarily provides phonetic guidance while sometimes echoing notions of obstinacy. In classical Chinese, this character typically denoted regret or a sense of disappointment, but its meaning gradually shifted to convey stronger feelings of hatred or resentment in later periods.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这种行为很可

Zhè zhǒng xíngwéi hěn kěhèn.

This kind of behavior is very hateful.

我对他没有任何意。

Wǒ duì tā méiyǒu rènhé hènyì.

I have no hatred towards him.

他悔自己犯的错误。

Tā huǐhèn zìjǐ fàn de cuòwù.

He regrets the mistake he made.

她心中充满了怨

Tā xīnzhōng chōngmǎnle yuànhèn.

Her heart is filled with resentment.

即使被伤害,我也不你。

Jíshǐ bèi shānghài, wǒ yě bù hèn nǐ.

Even if hurt, I don't hate you.

如果你一个人,你会很难快乐。

Rúguǒ nǐ hèn yīgè rén, nǐ huì hěn nán kuàilè.

If you hate someone, you will find it hard to be happy.

他不仅对方的欺骗,还自己的轻信。

Tā bùjǐn hèn duìfāng de qīpiàn, hái hèn zìjǐ de qīngxìn.

He not only hates the other's deception, but also hates his own credulity.

在漫长的历史中,民族间的仇曾导致无数战争。

Zài màncháng de lìshǐ zhōng, mínzú jiān de chóuhèn céng dǎozhì wúshù zhànzhēng.

In the long history, hatred between ethnic groups has led to countless wars.