原谅

• Pinyin: yuán liàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 原 = original; 谅 = 讠(speech) + 京, meaning to understand/forgive

Meaning

To forgive; to pardon; to excuse. To stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for their mistake.

A common word for forgiveness in interpersonal relationships. Common phrases: 请原谅我 (please forgive me), 原谅不了 (cannot forgive), 互相原谅 (forgive each other). Can be used for both serious offenses and minor mistakes.

Examples

1. 他已经真心道歉了，我决定原谅他这一次。 He has sincerely apologized, so I've decided to forgive him this time.
2. 父母总是最容易原谅孩子的人。 Parents are always the ones most willing to forgive their children.
3. 这种欺骗行为让人无法原谅。 This kind of deception is unforgivable.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, apologies, conflict resolution

Tone: emotional

Do Say

• 请你原谅我。(Please forgive me.)
• 我很难原谅他的所作所为。(I find it hard to forgive what he did.)

Don't Say

• 原谅你的迟到 — 小事用'没关系'或'不要紧'，原谅用于较严重的错误或伤害

Origin & History

Compound of 原 (original, fundamental) + 谅 (to understand, forgive). Together meaning to return to the original understanding, to forgive.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal