恨み

• Reading: うらみ
• Romaji: urami
• Kanji breakdown: 恨 (ura/kon) — grudge, resentment, bitterness; み — okurigana nominaliser
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.ɾa.mi/

Meaning

Grudge; resentment; bitterness; regret. A deep, lingering negative feeling toward someone who has caused harm or injustice.

From the verb 恨む (uramu), expressing deep-seated resentment. 恨み is more common and broadly applicable than the literary 遺恨 or 怨恨, appearing in everyday speech as well as formal writing. It can describe resentment toward people, fate, or circumstances. Common collocations include 恨みを抱く (to harbour a grudge), 恨みを晴らす (to settle a grudge), and 恨みに思う (to hold it against someone).

Examples

1. 幼い頃の仕打ちへの恨みは、大人になっても消えることがなかった。 The resentment from the way he was treated as a child never faded, even in adulthood.
2. 恨みを抱えたまま生きることは、自分自身を傷つけ続けることだ。 Living while holding onto a grudge only keeps hurting yourself.
3. 彼は恨みを晴らすために十年間を費やしたが、得るものは何もなかった。 He spent ten years trying to settle his grudge, but gained nothing from it.

Usage Guide

Context: interpersonal conflict, literature, history, daily life

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From the verb 恨む (uramu), meaning to resent or hold a grudge. The kanji 恨 contains the heart radical (忄) with an element suggesting deep, lingering bitterness that stays lodged in the heart long after the wound is inflicted.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal