Definitions

huǐ (verb) to regret; to repent

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "悔", representing the concept of regret, is structurally composed of the heart radical "忄" on the left and the component "每" on the right, with the latter primarily serving a phonetic function while possibly echoing the recurring nature of remorseful reflection. Its etymology firmly ties the emotion to the domain of inner feeling, as indicated by the heart element, a semantic association established in early Chinese lexicons. The meaning of "悔" has maintained a focus on repentance or sorrow over past actions across historical texts, with its semantic stability allowing for expanded use in compound words that specify types or degrees of regret, yet without fundamental shift in its central conception. The integrity of its form, built from these enduring components, continues to visually communicate this link between emotion and cognition.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)
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 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

我后买这本书。

Wǒ hòuhuǐ mǎi zhè běn shū.

I regret buying this book.

他现在非常后

Tā xiànzài fēicháng hòuhuǐ.

He now deeply regrets it.

是没用的。

Hòuhuǐ shì méi yòng de.

Regret is useless.

不该对他撒谎。

Wǒ huǐ bù gāi duì tā sāhuǎng.

I regret that I shouldn't have lied to him.

她的恨之情难以形容。

Tā de huǐhèn zhī qíng nányǐ xíngróng.

Her feeling of remorse is hard to describe.

年轻时做的决定让他终生恨。

Niánqīng shí zuò de juédìng ràng tā zhōngshēng huǐhèn.

The decision he made when young filled him with lifelong regret.

过自新,赢得了大家的原谅。

Tā huǐguò zìxīn, yíngdéle dàjiā de yuánliàng.

He repented and turned over a new leaf, winning everyone's forgiveness.

历史不容篡改,罪才能得到宽恕。

Lìshǐ bù róng cuàngǎi, huǐzuì cáinéng dédào kuānshù.

History cannot be tampered with; only repentance can lead to forgiveness.