悔过书 (huǐ guò shū) — written statement of repentance; letter of apology

Definition

A formal written statement admitting wrongdoing and expressing regret, typically demanded by a superior or organization. 道歉 is the everyday spoken apology, while 悔过书 is a concrete document filed or submitted as proof of remorse.

noun
written statement of repentanceletter of apology
Measure word · 封

Examples

  • 悔过书。
    Tā xiě le yì fēng huǐ guò shū gěi gōng sī.
    He wrote a letter of repentance to the company.
  • 悔过书。
    Zhè fèn huǐ guò shū biǎo dá le shēn shēn de qiàn yì.
    This written statement of repentance expresses deep apology.
  • 悔过书。
    Lǐng dǎo yāo qiú tā xiě yí fèn huǐ guò shū.
    The leader demanded that he write a statement of repentance.

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.

悔过repent of faults
悔huǐrepent过guòfaults
动宾Verb + object
书shūletter

悔过 means repent of faults, and 书 is the written document, giving a letter of apology.

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
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 →

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 過; 过 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
咼
咼wāi過guò
Same sound today

The traditional form 過 pairs 辵 (walk) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 过 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 过 →

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 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùwriting brush
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě書shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

Open 书 →

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