不堪回首 (bú) — can't bear to look back; too painful to recall
Definition
An idiom for memories that are too painful to revisit — the past itself is unbearable, not just the thought of it. Used for deeply bitter personal or collective experiences (war, trauma, regret).
idiom
can't bear to look backtoo painful to recall
Examples
- ，不堪回首。Huí yì qǐ nà duàn zhàn zhēng nián dài, zhēn shì bú.Recalling those war years, it's truly unbearable to look back.
- 不堪回首。Nà duàn tòng kǔ de jīng lì ràng rén bú.That painful experience is too bitter to recall.
- ，不堪回首。Měi dāng tí dào guò qù, tā dōu huì yáo tóu shuō bú.Whenever the past comes up, he shakes his head and says it's too painful to recall.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.