懲りる

• Reading: こりる
• Romaji: koriru
• Kanji breakdown: 懲 (chō/ko) — discipline, punish, chastise
• Pronunciation: /ko.ɾi.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To learn one's lesson; to learn the hard way; to have had enough of something unpleasant.

A Group 2 (ichidan) intransitive verb meaning to become fed up or wary after a bad experience. Often used in the negative 懲りない (someone who never learns). The nuance is that the experience was painful or unpleasant enough that one should not repeat it.

Examples

1. 前回の失敗で懲りたので、今度は慎重にやる。 After what happened last time, I learned my lesson and I'll be more careful this time.
2. 彼は何度失敗しても懲りない人だ。 He's the kind of person who never learns no matter how many times he fails.
3. あの店で食中毒になって懲りたから、もう行かない。 I got food poisoning at that restaurant and learned my lesson — I'm never going back.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, self-reflection, advice

Tone: rueful

Origin & History

From the kanji 懲 (to discipline, to punish), combining 心 (heart) with 徵 (to summon, to punish). The idea is that punishment reaches the heart, leaving a lasting impression.

Cultural Context

Era: Early Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal