后悔 (hòu huǐ) — to regret | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

后悔 is a verb meaning 'to regret' — your own past choice or action. Use 遗憾 when talking about a disappointing outcome (often as a noun/adjective); 悔恨 is deeper, more literary remorse.

verb

to regret

Examples

后悔。
Tā hòu huǐ méi yǒu hǎo hǎo xué xí.
He regrets not studying hard.
。
Nǐ yǐ hòu huì hòu huǐ zhè ge jué dìng de.
You will regret this decision later.
后悔。
Wǒ cóng lái bú zuò ràng zì jǐ hòu huǐ de shì.
I never do things that make me regret.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

后hòulater

悔huǐregret

后 points to later and 悔 to regret, giving regret felt later.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

幺幺yāothread
夊夊suīfoot

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

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

忄每悔

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīn

Sound part声符shēngfú

每

每měi悔huǐ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

悔 pairs 忄, the heart part, with 每, which gives a sound hint.

Open 悔 →

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