恨

• Pinyin: hèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 恨 = 忄(heart) + 艮 (phonetic)

Meaning

To hate; to resent. Strong negative feeling toward someone or something.

Expresses intense negative emotion ranging from hatred to deep regret. Can mean 'to hate' or in some contexts 'to regret deeply.' Common in 恨不得 (to wish desperately).

Examples

1. 他恨自己当初没有抓住那个机会。 He hates himself for not seizing that opportunity back then.
2. 她恨不得马上飞到他身边。 She wishes desperately she could fly to his side right now.
3. 我不恨任何人，但我无法原谅他的行为。 I don't hate anyone, but I cannot forgive his behavior.

Usage Guide

Context: emotion, regret, relationship, expression

Tone: intense

Do Say

• 恨不得立刻见到你。(I wish I could see you immediately.)
• 我恨自己太傻。(I hate myself for being so foolish.)

Don't Say

• 我恨这个菜 for mild dislike (恨 is very strong — use 不喜欢 or 讨厌 for lighter feelings)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 忄(heart radical) + 艮 (phonetic), representing strong negative emotion in the heart.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal