regret
Meaning: To feel sad or sorry about something that has happened or something you have done
Regret is feeling sorry about past actions or events. As a verb, it often appears in formal letters: 'We regret to inform you...' As a noun, it describes the feeling itself: 'I have no regrets.' 'Regrettable' means unfortunate or causing disappointment. Living with regrets implies unresolved feelings about past choices.
Examples
- I regret not learning to play the piano when I was younger. 我后悔年轻时没学钢琴。Lamento no haber aprendido a tocar el piano cuando era más joven.若いころにピアノを習わなかったことを後悔しています。어렸을 때 피아노를 배우지 않은 것을 후회합니다.
- We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful. 我们很遗憾地通知您,您的申请未获通过。Lamentamos informarle que su solicitud no fue exitosa.残念ながら、ご応募は不採用となりましたことをお知らせいたします。유감스럽게도 귀하의 지원이 불합격되었음을 알려드립니다.
- She has no regrets about her decision to move abroad. 她对移居国外的决定毫不后悔。No tiene ningún arrepentimiento sobre su decisión de mudarse al extranjero.彼女は海外に移住する決断について何も後悔していません。그녀는 해외로 이주한 결정에 대해 아무런 후회가 없습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Old French 'regreter' meaning 'to weep over, lament', possibly from Frankish 'gretan' (to weep, cry). Related to Old Norse 'grata' (to weep) and Gothic 'gretan' (to weep). The more moderate sense of 'to feel sorry' is modern.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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