chóuhèn: 仇恨 - Hatred, Animosity, Enmity

• Keywords: 仇恨, chóuhèn, chouhen, hatred in Chinese, enmity Chinese, Chinese word for hate, 仇恨 meaning, what is chouhen, 仇 vs 恨, Chinese culture hate
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 仇恨 (chóuhèn), a powerful Chinese word for a deep and long-lasting hatred, enmity, or animosity. This page breaks down the characters 仇 (chóu) and 恨 (hèn), explores the cultural significance of this intense emotion in Chinese history and stories, and provides practical examples to help you distinguish it from simple dislike. Understand when to use this serious term and avoid common mistakes made by learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chóuhèn
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: A deep-seated and intense feeling of hatred, enmity, or animosity.
• In a Nutshell: 仇恨 (chóuhèn) is not your everyday “hate.” You wouldn't use it to say you hate traffic or Mondays. This word describes a profound, often long-lasting animosity that can define relationships between people, families, or even nations. It implies a deep wound, a historical grievance, or a fundamental opposition. Think of the kind of hatred that fuels epic feuds like the Montagues and Capulets—that's the level of intensity captured by 仇恨.

• 仇 (chóu): This character is about an adversary or a feud. The left side, the person radical (亻), signifies that this concept relates to people. The right side (九) is a phonetic component. Together, 仇 points to an enemy or the state of being in a feud with someone.
• 恨 (hèn): This character gets to the heart of the feeling. The left side is the heart radical (忄), indicating an emotion. The right side (艮) means “to stop” or “toughness.” So, 恨 vividly paints a picture of a hard, unmoving, negative feeling stuck in one's heart—the essence of hatred or resentment.

When you combine 仇 (feud/enemy) and 恨 (hatred), you get 仇恨 (chóuhèn), a formal and powerful term that describes the intense hatred one feels towards an enemy or as a result of a deep-seated feud.

In Chinese culture, 仇恨 is a “heavy” concept, often linked to history, justice, and honor. It's a central theme in many famous wuxia (martial arts) novels, historical dramas, and films. A key cultural concept is 报仇 (bàochóu), which means “to take revenge” or “to avenge.” Often, a story's hero is driven by the need to resolve a great 仇恨—perhaps their family was wronged or their teacher was murdered. This isn't seen as simple revenge, but as a restoration of justice and honor. The classic idiom 国仇家恨 (guó chóu jiā hèn)—“national enmity and family hatred”—shows how personal grievances and national conflicts can intertwine, creating a powerful, collective sense of 仇恨 that can span generations. Compared to the English word “hatred,” 仇恨 is less of a spontaneous personal emotion and more of a structured, long-term state. While an American might say “I hate my ex-boss” in a moment of anger, a Chinese speaker would likely reserve 仇恨 for a situation where that boss truly and systematically destroyed their life, creating a lasting enmity. 仇恨 implies a history and a deep-seated reason for the feeling.

仇恨 is a formal and very strong word. Its use is largely confined to serious contexts.

• Formal/Written Contexts: You will frequently see 仇恨 in news articles about ethnic conflicts, international disputes, or historical rivalries. It's also common in literature and academic discussions.
• Personal/Spoken Contexts: In conversation, using 仇恨 signals an extremely serious and non-negotiable situation. It might be used to describe the feeling after a profound betrayal by a family member or business partner, or in the context of a bitter feud. It is not used for casual dislikes. For everyday annoyances, you would use 讨厌 (tǎoyàn).

As a noun, it means “hatred” (e.g., “a feeling of hatred”). As a verb, it means “to hate deeply” (e.g., “He deeply hates his enemy”).

• Example 1:
  • 他们之间的仇恨已经持续了好几代。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen zhījiān de chóuhèn yǐjīng chíxùle hǎojǐ dài.
  • English: The hatred between them has already lasted for several generations.
  • Analysis: This example highlights the long-term, deep-seated nature of 仇恨, perfectly describing a family feud.
• Example 2:
  • 战争在两国人民心中播下了仇恨的种子。
  • Pinyin: Zhànzhēng zài liǎng guó rénmín xīnzhōng bōxiàle chóuhèn de zhǒngzǐ.
  • English: The war sowed the seeds of hatred in the hearts of the two countries' people.
  • Analysis: This is a common, formal usage, often seen in news or historical texts, to describe the origin of national enmity.
• Example 3:
  • 我们不应该让仇恨蒙蔽了双眼。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bù yìnggāi ràng chóuhèn méngbìle shuāng yǎn.
  • English: We shouldn't let hatred blind us.
  • Analysis: Here, 仇恨 is used as an abstract concept, a destructive force that can cloud one's judgment.
• Example 4:
  • 他对背叛他的人充满了仇恨。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì bèipàn tā de rén chōngmǎnle chóuhèn.
  • English: He is full of hatred for the person who betrayed him.
  • Analysis: This shows 仇恨 in a deeply personal context, resulting from a severe transgression like betrayal.
• Example 5:
  • 消除种族仇恨是全社会共同的责任。
  • Pinyin: Xiāochú zhǒngzú chóuhèn shì quán shèhuì gòngtóng de zérèn.
  • English: Eliminating racial hatred is the shared responsibility of the whole society.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 仇恨 in a serious social and political context.
• Example 6:
  • 这部电影深刻地探讨了爱与仇恨的界限。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng shēnkè de tàntǎole ài yǔ chóuhèn de jièxiàn.
  • English: This movie profoundly explores the boundary between love and hatred.
  • Analysis: A literary or artistic use, where 仇恨 is contrasted with its opposite, love.
• Example 7:
  • 他仇恨那个毁了他家庭的敌人。
  • Pinyin: Tā chóuhèn nàge huǐle tā jiātíng de dírén.
  • English: He hates the enemy who destroyed his family.
  • Analysis: Here, 仇恨 is used as a verb, signifying an intense, action-oriented hatred towards a specific target.
• Example 8:
  • 他的言论在网络上引发了巨大的仇恨和争议。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yánlùn zài wǎngluò shàng yǐnfāle jùdà de chóuhèn hé zhēngyì.
  • English: His remarks incited immense hatred and controversy online.
  • Analysis: A modern example showing how 仇恨 can describe the intense animosity seen in online discourse. “Hate speech” is often translated as 仇恨言论 (chóuhèn yánlùn).
• Example 9:
  • 多年的误会是他们之间仇恨的根源。
  • Pinyin: Duōnián de wùhuì shì tāmen zhījiān chóuhèn de gēnyuán.
  • English: Years of misunderstanding are the root of the hatred between them.
  • Analysis: This sentence points to the “source” or “root” (根源 gēnyuán) of the 仇恨, reinforcing that it's a feeling with a deep history.
• Example 10:
  • 忘记仇恨，才能真正地获得内心的平静。
  • Pinyin: Wàngjì chóuhèn, cáinéng zhēnzhèng de huòdé nèixīn de píngjìng.
  • English: Only by forgetting hatred can one truly obtain inner peace.
  • Analysis: This provides a philosophical take, positioning 仇恨 as an obstacle to personal well-being.

The most common mistake for learners is overusing 仇恨 for simple dislike. It is a word with immense weight.

• Mistake: Using 仇恨 for things that are merely annoying.
  • Incorrect: 我仇恨星期一。(Wǒ chóuhèn xīngqīyī.) - “I have a deep-seated enmity for Mondays.” This sounds bizarre and overly dramatic.
  • Correct: 我讨厌星期一。(Wǒ tǎoyàn xīngqīyī.) - “I dislike/hate Mondays.”
• Distinguishing 仇恨 (chóuhèn), 恨 (hèn), and 讨厌 (tǎoyàn):
  • 讨厌 (tǎoyàn): “Dislike” or “to find annoying.” This is the lightest of the three and is used very frequently for everyday dislikes (people, food, situations).
  • 恨 (hèn): “To hate.” This is a strong word but more versatile than 仇恨. It can express intense anger (“我恨你! - I hate you!”) but can also be used slightly more hyperbolically. It can also mean “to regret.”
  • 仇恨 (chóuhèn): “Deep-seated hatred, enmity.” This is the most formal and severe. It implies a long history, a feud, or an irreconcilable conflict. It's about a state of being enemies, not just a fleeting feeling of hate.

Think of it as a scale: 讨厌 (annoyed) < 恨 (hate) < 仇恨 (enmity/feud).

• 恨 (hèn) - The core component of 仇恨. Can be used alone to mean “to hate” or “to regret.” It is more common in spoken language than 仇恨.
• 讨厌 (tǎoyàn) - A much weaker term meaning “to dislike” or “to find annoying.” It's an antonym in terms of intensity.
• 报仇 (bàochóu) - To take revenge; to avenge. This action is often motivated by deep 仇恨.
• 敌人 (dírén) - Enemy. The person or group towards whom one feels 仇恨.
• 怨恨 (yuànhèn) - Grudge; resentment. Similar to 仇恨, but emphasizes the feeling of being wronged and the subsequent bitterness.
• 憎恨 (zēnghèn) - To detest; to abhor. A strong, formal synonym for 仇恨, often found in literature.
• 国仇家恨 (guó