Meaning
The kanji 恨 primarily means grudge, resentment, bitterness, or regret. It refers to a deep-seated negative feeling, often directed at someone or something perceived to have caused harm or injustice. This kanji captures the internal state of holding onto past grievances, rather than just a fleeting moment of anger.
Its visual components offer a strong hint at its meaning. The kanji 恨 combines two main parts: the radical 心 on the left and the component 艮 on the right. The 心 radical, meaning "heart" or "mind," signifies a deeply internal and emotional feeling. The component 艮 (also read as ごん) is often associated with concepts like "stopping," "bound," "limit," or "stubbornness." Combining these, we get a picture of a heart (心) that is "stopped" or "stubbornly bound" (艮) by persistent negative emotions. It's a heart that refuses to let go of a past wrong, holding onto its bitterness.
This 9-stroke kanji is not taught in Japanese elementary school and therefore has no specific school grade assigned. It is typically learned by students preparing for the JLPT N1 level, indicating its advanced complexity and nuanced meaning.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi reading, コン (kon), is typically found in compound words. These compounds often appear in more formal or academic contexts, describing various forms of resentment or regret.
- 怨恨 (enkon) — This compound refers to a deep-seated grudge or profound hatred. It suggests a powerful, often long-standing animosity, like an inherited family feud.
- 遺恨 (ikon) — Means lingering resentment or regret, often associated with a past defeat, loss, or unresolved conflict. It’s a feeling that persists over time, such as a sports team harboring 遺恨 from a previous championship loss.
- 宿恨 (shukukon) — Implies an old grudge or a long-standing resentment that has been harbored for many years, like an old family dispute.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi readings of 恨 are うら.む (ura.mu) and うら.めしい (ura.meshii).
うら.む (ura.mu)
This is a transitive verb meaning "to resent," "to bear a grudge against," or "to regret." It describes the act of feeling bitter or angry towards someone or something, often blaming them for one's misfortune.
- 恨む (uramu) — The basic verb form, meaning to resent or hold a grudge. Example: 彼は自分の運命を恨んだ。 (He resented his fate.)
- 人を恨む (hito o uramu) — To resent someone or bear a grudge against a person.
- 裏切りを恨む (uragiri o uramu) — To resent betrayal, such as being betrayed by a friend.
うら.めしい (ura.meshii)
This is an い-adjective meaning "resentful," "reproachful," "bitter," or "envious." It describes the state of feeling or appearing to feel resentment, often conveyed through one's expression or tone.
- 恨めしい (urameshii) — The basic adjective form, describing something or someone as resentful or regretful.
- 恨めしそうな目 (urameshisō na me) — A resentful or reproachful look in one's eyes, for instance, a child giving their parent a 恨めしそうな目 after being scolded.
- 恨めしげに (urameshige ni) — To do something resentfully or bitterly, like sighing 恨めしげに.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 恨 appears in many words and compounds, frequently relating to negative emotions, grievances, and reactions to misfortune. Below are some common examples, categorized by their usage:
Nouns Related to Grudges and Resentment
- 恨み (urami) — This is the nominal form of 恨む, meaning a grudge, resentment, malice, or bitterness. It refers to the feeling itself, like having a 恨み against someone.
- 恨み言 (uramigoto) — Words of complaint, reproaches, or grumbling. Often spoken by someone feeling resentful or wronged, e.g., an employee's 恨み言 about their boss.
- 怨恨 (enkon) — A deep-seated grudge or hatred, indicating a very strong and persistent animosity.
- 遺恨 (ikon) — Lingering resentment or regret, especially after an unresolved conflict or past event.
- 宿恨 (shukukon) — An old grudge or long-standing resentment, often passed down or kept for a significant period.
Verbs and Adjectives Expressing Resentment
- 恨む (uramu) — To resent, to bear a grudge, to regret. The direct action of holding negative feelings.
- 恨めしい (urameshii) — Resentful, reproachful, bitter. Describes a feeling or appearance.
- 恨めしがる (urameshgaru) — To feel resentful, to complain bitterly. This verb implies expressing the resentment.
Idiomatic Expressions and Phrases
- 恨みを買う (urami o kau) — To incur resentment or displeasure. This phrase describes actions that cause others to hold a grudge against one, like making an unfair decision.
- 恨みを晴らす (urami o harasu) — To get revenge, to satisfy a grudge, or to avenge oneself. It refers to the act of resolving a grievance, perhaps by winning a competition against a rival.
- 恨み骨髄 (urami kotsuzui) — Lit. "resentment to the bone marrow." This powerful idiom describes a deep-seated and intense resentment that pervades one's entire being.
Example Sentences
誰かを恨むのは、自分の心を苦しめるだけだ。
Dareka o uramu no wa, jibun no kokoro o kurushimeru dakeda.
Bearing a grudge against someone only torments one's own heart.
彼は過去の出来事をずっと恨んでいた。
Kare wa kako no dekigoto o zutto urandeita.
He had been resenting the past event for a long time.
彼女は失われた青春を恨めしく思った。
Kanojo wa ushinawareta seishun o urameshiku omotta.
She felt regretful about her lost youth.
運命を恨んでも、何も変わらないだろう。
Unmei o urande mo, nani mo kawaranai darō.
Even if you resent your fate, nothing will change.
その言葉が彼の心に深い恨みを残した。
Sono kotoba ga kare no kokoro ni fukai urami o nokoshita.
Those words left a deep resentment in his heart.
彼の恨めしそうな表情が私の脳裏から離れない。
Kare no urameshisō na hyōjō ga watashi no nōri kara hanarenai.
His resentful expression cannot leave my mind.
彼は不正を働いた上司に強い怨恨を抱いていた。
Kare wa fusei o hataraita jōshi ni tsuyoi enkon o idaiteita.
He harbored a strong deep-seated grudge against his dishonest boss.
チームの敗北は、選手たちの間に遺恨を残した。
Chīmu no haiboku wa, senshu-tachi no aida ni ikon o nokoshita.
The team's defeat left lingering resentment among the players.
恨みを晴らすために、彼は長い年月を費やした。
Urami o harasu tame ni, kare wa nagai nengetsu o tsuiyashita.
He spent many years to satisfy his grudge.
どんなに苦しくても、人を恨む心は持たないようにしたい。
Donna ni kurushikute mo, hito o uramu kokoro wa motanai yō ni shitai.
No matter how painful it is, I want to avoid holding resentment towards others.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 恨, think about its components: 心 (heart) and 艮 (stop, bound, stubborn). Imagine a person whose heart (心) has become stuck or stopped (艮) on a past grievance. It's a heart that stubbornly refuses to move on, holding onto bitterness and resentment. This visual of a heart bound by an unresolved wrong can help you recall the meaning of grudge or resentment. The feeling is so strong it binds the heart and prevents it from finding peace, making one feel resentful and regretful.