hòuhuǐ: 后悔 - To Regret, To Repent

• Keywords: houhui meaning, hou hui chinese, regret in Chinese, how to say I regret in Chinese, 后悔 pinyin, 后悔 vs 遗憾, Chinese word for repent, what does houhui mean, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to express “regret” in Mandarin Chinese with the word 后悔 (hòuhuǐ). This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, character breakdown, and cultural significance. Discover the crucial difference between `后悔 (hòuhuǐ)` and `遗憾 (yíhàn)`, and learn how to use this essential HSK 4 verb correctly in everyday conversation with over 10 practical example sentences, audio, and analysis designed for English-speaking learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): hòuhuǐ
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To feel sorrow, remorse, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done, especially a personal mistake.
• In a Nutshell: `后悔 (hòuhuǐ)` is the feeling you get after you've done something and wish you hadn't. It's an active, often painful, emotion of self-blame. Think of the moment you say, “Ugh, I shouldn't have done that!”—that feeling is `后悔`. It implies that you had control over the situation and made the wrong choice, leading to a negative consequence.

• 后 (hòu): This character means “after,” “behind,” or “later.” It points to the timing of the feeling—it occurs *after* the action has already taken place.
• 悔 (huǐ): This character means “to regret” or “to repent.” It's composed of the “heart” radical `忄` on the left, indicating it's an emotion or a state of mind, and `每 (měi)` on the right, which primarily provides the sound.
• The two characters combine to literally mean “after-regret,” a perfectly logical construction for the feeling of regretting a past action.

In Chinese culture, `后悔 (hòuhuǐ)` is a powerful and universally understood emotion. However, its expression is often tied to practical outcomes and social harmony. A well-known idiom, 世上没有后悔药 (shìshàng méiyǒu hòuhuǐ yào), translates to “There is no 'regret medicine' in the world.” This phrase is frequently used to teach children and adults alike that actions have consequences and one must think carefully before acting, as there are no do-overs. It reflects a pragmatic cultural mindset that emphasizes learning from mistakes and moving forward rather than dwelling on the past. Compared to the English concept of “regret,” `后悔` carries a strong sense of personal responsibility and fault. While in Western cultures, expressing regret can be seen as a sign of emotional vulnerability and self-awareness, in some Chinese contexts, openly admitting deep `后悔` might be perceived as a significant loss of miànzi (face), as it's a direct admission of a serious error in judgment. However, in close relationships, expressing `后悔` is a crucial way to show sincerity and seek forgiveness.

`后悔` is an extremely common word used in a wide range of situations, from minor daily mishaps to major life decisions.

• Informal/Everyday Use: People frequently use it for small things. For example, “我后悔吃了那么多” (I regret eating so much) or “我后悔没早点睡” (I regret not going to bed earlier).
• Serious Decisions: It's also used to express deep remorse about significant life choices. For instance, “他很后悔放弃了那个工作机会” (He really regrets giving up that job opportunity).
• Advising Others: You can use it to warn someone about the potential negative consequences of an action, e.g., “你现在不努力，以后会后悔的” (If you don't work hard now, you will regret it later).
• Intensity: The feeling can be intensified with adverbs like `真 (zhēn)`, `太 (tài)`, or `非常 (fēicháng)`. For example, “我真后悔!” (I really regret it!).

• Example 1:
  • 我后悔没听我父母的话。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hòuhuǐ méi tīng wǒ fùmǔ de huà.
  • English: I regret not listening to my parents' advice.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of regretting an inaction (`没听` - didn't listen). It shows a strong sense of personal fault.
• Example 2:
  • 你现在跟他分手，将来一定会后悔的。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xiànzài gēn tā fēnshǒu, jiānglái yīdìng huì hòuhuǐ de.
  • English: If you break up with him now, you will definitely regret it in the future.
  • Analysis: Here, `后悔` is used as a warning or prediction about a future feeling. The particle `的` at the end of the sentence adds certainty to the prediction.
• Example 3:
  • 看到我的考试成绩，我后悔极了。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào wǒ de kǎoshì chéngjī, wǒ hòuhuǐ jí le.
  • English: Seeing my exam results, I was extremely regretful.
  • Analysis: The phrase `…极了 (…jí le)` is used to express an extreme degree. `后悔极了` means “extremely regretful.”
• Example 4:
  • 我真后悔对你说了那些话。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhēn hòuhuǐ duì nǐ shuōle nàxiē huà.
  • English: I really regret saying those things to you.
  • Analysis: Using `真 (zhēn)` emphasizes the sincerity and depth of the regret. This is a common way to apologize.
• Example 5:
  • 他买完那辆车就后悔了。
  • Pinyin: Tā mǎi wán nà liàng chē jiù hòuhuǐ le.
  • English: He regretted it as soon as he bought that car.
  • Analysis: The structure `一…就… (yī…jiù…)` is implied here. `(一)买完…就后悔了` shows the immediacy of the regret (buyer's remorse).
• Example 6:
  • 你做这个决定，后悔吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zuò zhège juédìng, hòuhuǐ ma?
  • English: Do you regret making this decision?
  • Analysis: A simple and direct question using the `吗 (ma)` particle.
• Example 7:
  • 无论发生什么，我都不会后悔。
  • Pinyin: Wúlùn fāshēng shénme, wǒ dōu bù huì hòuhuǐ.
  • English: No matter what happens, I will not regret it.
  • Analysis: This shows the negative form, expressing determination and conviction in one's choices.
• Example 8:
  • 世上没有后悔药，做了就不要想太多。
  • Pinyin: Shìshàng méiyǒu hòuhuǐ yào, zuòle jiù bùyào xiǎng tài duō.
  • English: There's no regret medicine in the world; once you've done it, don't overthink it.
  • Analysis: This uses the famous idiom to offer practical advice.
• Example 9:
  • 我太后悔昨天晚上熬夜了，今天好困。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ tài hòuhuǐ zuótiān wǎnshàng áoyè le, jīntiān hǎo kùn.
  • English: I regret staying up late last night so much; I'm so sleepy today.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of everyday regret. `太…了 (tài…le)` is another common structure to intensify the feeling.
• Example 10:
  • 他很后悔当初没有更努力地学习。
  • Pinyin: Tā hěn hòuhuǐ dāngchū méiyǒu gèng nǔlì de xuéxí.
  • English: He greatly regrets not having studied harder back then.
  • Analysis: `当初 (dāngchū)` means “at that time” or “originally,” clearly placing the regret in the context of a past decision with long-term consequences.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 后悔 (hòuhuǐ) with 遗憾 (yíhàn). They can both be translated as “regret,” but their connotations are very different.

• 后悔 (hòuhuǐ): Regret from a personal mistake. You are at fault. The feeling is one of self-blame.
  • I made the wrong choice, and now I feel bad.
  • Example: 我后悔卖掉了我的股票，现在它涨了很多。(Wǒ hòuhuǐ màidiàole wǒ de gǔpiào, xiànzài tā zhǎngle hěn duō.) - I regret selling my stock; it has gone up a lot now. (My fault for selling).
• 遗憾 (yíhàn): Regret or pity over a situation beyond your control. It's a sense of loss or a shame that something didn't happen, but it wasn't necessarily your fault.
  • It's a pity that things didn't work out.
  • Example: 我们没能赢得比赛，真是个遗憾。(Wǒmen méi néng yíngdé bǐsài, zhēnshì ge yíhàn.) - It's truly a pity/regret that we couldn't win the game. (The team tried, but circumstances led to a loss).

Common Mistake Example:

• Incorrect: 我很后悔没能去你的生日派对。 (Wǒ hěn hòuhuǐ méi néng qù nǐ de shēngrì pàiduì.)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds overly dramatic, as if not attending the party was a major life-altering mistake. It puts too much blame on yourself.
• Correct: 我没能去你的生日派对，真遗憾。 (Wǒ méi néng qù nǐ de shēngrì pàiduì, zhēn yíhàn.)
• Why it's right: This correctly expresses that it's a “pity” or “unfortunate” that you couldn't go, likely due to a scheduling conflict or other external factors. It conveys disappointment without excessive self-blame.

• 遗憾 (yíhàn) - The most critical related term. It means “pity,” “shame,” or “regret” due to circumstances beyond one's control, not personal fault.
• 懊悔 (àohuǐ) - A stronger, more formal, and literary synonym for `后悔`. It implies deep, bitter remorse.
• 反省 (fǎnxǐng) - To reflect, to introspect. This is the process of thinking about one's past actions to learn from them, which might be prompted by a feeling of `后悔`.
• 悔改 (huǐgǎi) - To repent and change for the better. This term has a stronger moral or even religious connotation and implies a firm decision to correct one's behavior.
• 可惜 (kěxī) - “It's a pity,” “what a shame.” Similar to `遗憾`, but often used for wasted things, like wasted food, talent, or a missed opportunity.
• 抱歉 (bàoqiàn) - To feel sorry, to be apologetic. This is what you say to someone else (an apology), whereas `后悔` is the feeling you have inside.
• 世上没有后悔药 (shìshàng méiyǒu hòuhuǐ yào) - An idiom meaning “There's no regret medicine in the world,” used to emphasize the finality of one's actions.