怨

yuàn

夗 + 心

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

yuàn (verb) to blame; to resent

yuàn (noun) grievance; resentment

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 夗 represents the sound.

Semantic: 心 Phonetic: 夗

About

怨 is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic component 心 'heart' at the bottom anchors it in the domain of emotions, while 夗 at the top supplies the pronunciation. It primarily means to harbour resentment or a grudge, a lingering bitterness toward someone for a perceived wrong. In context, it appears in words for complaining, blaming, and deep dissatisfaction, always stressing a sustained, corrosive feeling rather than a brief flash of anger.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他总是抱怨工作。

Tā zǒngshì bàoyuàn gōngzuò.

He always complains about work.

她心中充满怨恨。

Tā xīnzhōng chōngmǎn yuànhèn.

Her heart is filled with resentment.

顾客对服务没有怨言。

Gùkè duì fúwù méiyǒu yuànyán.

The customer has no complaints about the service.

我们不应该互相怨恨。

Wǒmen bù yīnggāi hùxiāng yuànhèn.

We should not resent each other.

长期的抱怨会损害人际关系。

Chángqī de bàoyuàn huì sǔnhài rénjì guānxì.

Long-term complaining can damage interpersonal relationships.

她将内心的怨愤倾诉了出来。

Tā jiāng nèixīn de yuànfèn qīngsù le chūlái.

She poured out the resentment in her heart.

怨怼的情绪需要及时疏导。

Yuànduì de qíngxù xūyào jíshí shūdǎo.

Feelings of resentment need to be guided in time.

切勿因小事而心生怨艾。

Qiè wù yīn xiǎoshì ér xīn shēng yuànài.

Never let small things generate resentment in your heart.

Related Characters

Component: 夗

Component: 心

Example Words