后悔

• Pinyin: hòu huǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 后 = after/behind; 悔 = to regret

Meaning

To regret; to feel remorse. Wishing one had acted differently.

Strong emotional state about past actions or inactions. Often used with 不该 (shouldn't have) or 早知道 (if I had known). Implies learning from mistakes.

Examples

1. 他后悔没有好好学习英语。 He regrets not studying English properly.
2. 做这个决定我一点都不后悔。 I don't regret this decision at all.
3. 等你后悔的时候就太晚了。 By the time you regret it, it will be too late.

Usage Guide

Context: emotion, reflection, decision, advice

Tone: remorseful

Do Say

• 你会后悔的。(You will regret it.)
• 我真后悔当时那样做。(I really regret doing that at the time.)

Don't Say

• 我后悔明天的事 (后悔 is for past events — you can't regret future things)

Origin & History

Compound of 后 (after, later) + 悔 (to regret), meaning regret that comes afterward.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal