忌恨 (jì hèn) — spite; resentment; envy and hatred

Definition

A formal noun for deep, lingering resentment toward someone — stronger and more literary than everyday 恨, often implying envy mixed with hatred.

noun
spiteresentmentenvy and hatred
Easily confused

Examples

  • 忌恨，。
    Tā huái zhe yì kē jì hèn de xīn, duì chéng gōng rén shì lěng cháo rè fěng.
    He harbored a heart of spite, sneering at successful people.
  • 忌恨。
    Zhè zhǒng wú duān de jì hèn zhī huì shāng hài zì jǐ.
    This kind of groundless resentment only hurts oneself.
  • 忌恨，。
    Tā wú fǎ yǎn shì xīn zhōng de jì hèn, yǎn shén chōng mǎn le dí yì.
    She couldn't hide the envy and hate in her heart; her eyes were full of hostility.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

忌jìenvy
恨hènhate

The 忌 envy and 恨 hate combine to mean resentment.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
己
己jǐ忌jì
Same sound today

忌 combines 己, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, as the part connected to the meaning.

Open 忌 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart; thought; emotion
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn恨hèn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 忄 is the heart, pointing to an emotion such as regret or hate. The right side 艮 supplies the sound.

Open 恨 →

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