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雪恨 (xuě hèn) — to wreak vengeance; to avenge

Definition

雪恨 is a literary verb meaning to avenge a grievance — ‘wreak vengeance, settle a score.’ Often paired with 报仇 (to take revenge), it stresses wiping out the hatred rather than the act of revenge itself.

verb
to wreak vengeanceto avenge

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā zhōng yú bào le chóu, xuě le hèn.
    He finally got his revenge and avenged the wrong.
  • ，。
    Bù xuě cǐ hèn, shì bú bà xiū.
    If I don't avenge this, I'll never stop.
  • 雪恨，。
    Tā fā shì yào xuě hèn, wèi jiā rén tǎo huí gōng dào.
    She swore to avenge and seek justice for her family.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

雪xuěwash away
恨hènhatred

雪 means to wash away or avenge, and 恨 is the grievance; together they mean to clear away hatred.

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
雨雨yǔrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
彗
彗huì雪xuě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

雪 pairs 雨, showing rain, with 彗, giving the sound.

Open 雪 →

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
Conflict & Agreement

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