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怀恨 (huái hèn) — to harbor resentment or hatred (in one's heart)

Definition

怀恨 means to hold a grudge — keep hatred quietly inside over time, often leading to 报复. Differs from 讨厌 (active dislike of someone) by being deeper and long-held.

verb
to harbor resentment or hatred (in one's heart)

Examples

  • 怀恨。
    Tā yīn wèi zhè jiàn shì yì zhí duì wǒ huái hèn.
    He has always harbored resentment towards me because of this matter.
  • ，。
    Tā duì wǒ huái le hěn shēn de hèn, yì zhí bù kěn yuán liàng wǒ.
    He harbored deep hatred towards me and never forgave me.
  • 怀恨，。
    Tā huái hèn zài xīn, děng dài bào fu de jī huì.
    She harbored resentment in her heart, waiting for a chance to take revenge.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

怀huáihold/cherish
恨hènresentment

"怀" means to hold or cherish, and "恨" means resentment, so the word pictures keeping hatred in one's heart.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 懷; 怀 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
褱
褱huái懷huái
Same sound today

The traditional form 懷 uses 心 (heart) to show longing and 褱 for the sound; the simplified 怀 is a later shorthand.

Open 怀 →

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 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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