解恨 (jiě hèn) — to vent one's hatred; to get even

Definition

A resultative verb meaning to release pent-up hatred or resentment — used when an action finally lets your anger out, not about winning or defeating someone. Negates naturally with 不了, as in 解不了恨.

verb
to vent one's hatredto get even

Examples

  • 。
    Tā zhè yàng bào fu cái jiě le hèn.
    Only by taking revenge like this did he vent his hatred.
  • 。
    Nǐ zhè yàng zuò gēn běn jiě bù liǎo hèn.
    Doing this won't vent your hatred at all.
  • 解恨。
    Tā zuò le hěn duō shì lái jiě hèn.
    He did many things to vent his hatred.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

解jiědissolve
恨hènhatred

"解" means to dissolve or relieve, and "恨" is the hatred being vented.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →

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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