遗憾

• Pinyin: yí hàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 遗 = 辶 (walk) + 贵 (precious), meaning to leave behind; 憾 = 忄 (heart) + 感 (feel), meaning regret

Meaning

Regret; regrettable; pity. A feeling of sadness about something that cannot be changed.

Used as adjective (令人遗憾 regrettable), noun (留下遗憾 leave regrets), or verb-object (感到遗憾 feel regret). Common expressions: 深感遗憾 (deeply regret), 人生遗憾 (life regrets), 弥补遗憾 (make up for regrets). More formal than 可惜.

Examples

1. 没能亲眼看到这场演出，真是太遗憾了。 It's such a pity that I couldn't see this performance in person.
2. 我不想给自己留下遗憾。 I don't want to leave myself with any regrets.
3. 对于这个结果，我们深表遗憾。 We deeply regret this outcome.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, formal statements, reflection

Tone: reflective

Do Say

• 这是我人生最大的遗憾。(This is the biggest regret of my life.)
• 很遗憾地通知您...(We regret to inform you...)

Don't Say

• 遗憾你 — 遗憾不能直接加人作宾语，应说'对你感到遗憾'或'为你遗憾'

Origin & History

Compound of 遗 (to leave behind, lose) + 憾 (regret). Together meaning something left behind that causes regret.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal