Chinese Character: 恨
1. Character Basics
Radical: 忄/xīn (heart) + 艮/gèn (stop)
Stroke Count: 9 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Hèn (Fourth tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Hatred; resentment; grudge; to hate
Extended Meaning: Regret; sorrow; bitterness; animosity
Additional Notes: This character primarily expresses strong negative emotions towards someone or something, often due to perceived injustice or hurt.
4. Common Words
- 仇恨 (chóu hèn) - Hatred; enmity
他们之间有很深的仇恨。(They have deep hatred between them.)
- 怨恨 (yuàn hèn) - Resentment; grudge
她心中充满了怨恨。(Her heart is filled with resentment.)
- 悔恨 (huǐ hèn) - Regret deeply; remorse
他对自己的错误感到悔恨。(He feels deep remorse for his mistake.)
- 怀恨 (huái hèn) - Bear a grudge; harbour resentment
不要怀恨在心。(Don't harbour resentment in your heart.)
- 恨之入骨 (hèn zhī rù gǔ) - Hate to the bone
他对敌人恨之入骨。(He hates the enemy to the bone.)
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Verb, noun
Usage as a Verb: When used as a verb, "恨" means "to hate" or "to resent". It is often followed by an object.
我恨说谎的人。(I hate people who lie.)
Usage as a Noun: When used as a noun, "恨" refers to the emotion of hatred or resentment.
他心中的恨很难消除。(The hatred in his heart is hard to eliminate.)
Common Structures:
- 恨 + [Person/Thing]: To hate [someone/something]
- 恨 + 不得: Wish eagerly;恨不得 (e.g., 我恨不得马上回家。I wish I could go home right away.)
- 恨 + [Verb]: Regret not [doing something] (e.g., 我很恨没去。I deeply regret not going.)
Note: "恨" is a strong emotion word and should be used carefully in polite conversation.
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the concept of "恨" (hatred) has complex implications. Traditional Chinese philosophy emphasizes harmony and forgiveness, so holding onto hatred is generally discouraged.
In classical Chinese literature, "恨" often appears in poems and stories to express deep sorrow, regret, or unfulfilled love, not just simple hatred.
Some cultural points:
- In Confucian teachings, overcoming hatred through virtue is seen as a moral achievement.
- Buddhism, which has greatly influenced Chinese culture, teaches that hatred is one of the "three poisons" (along with greed and ignorance) that cause suffering.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, prolonged hatred is believed to harm the liver and overall health.
Today, the phrase "化干戈为玉帛" (turn weapons into jade and silk) is often used to encourage reconciliation and letting go of hatred.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1: 不要让恨占据你的心。(Don't let hatred occupy your heart.)
Example 2: 她对过去的事没有任何恨。(She has no hatred for the past.)
Example 3: 时间可以治愈恨。(Time can heal hatred.)
8. Memory Tips
- Structure Memory: "恨" is composed of "忄" (heart) and "艮" (stop). You can remember it as "a heart that stops loving" or "a heart that is blocked by negative emotions".
- Sound Association: The pronunciation "hèn" (fourth tone) sounds forceful, matching the intensity of the emotion it represents.
- Word Grouping: Group related words together: 仇恨 (hatred), 怨恨 (resentment), 悔恨 (regret). This helps expand your vocabulary while memorizing the character.
- Stroke Order Practice: Write the character several times following the correct stroke order to build muscle memory.
- Context Usage: Use the character in sentences or think about situations where this emotion might arise. Associating words with real-life contexts improves retention.