恨 meaning and stroke order
To hate; to regret
How to write 恨, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 恨
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to hate
- to regret
How 恨 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Heart.
忄 gives the meaning and 艮 hints at the sound.
Radical: 忄 (heart), shared by 167 characters on this site.
How to remember 恨
恨 (hèn) is a feeling, so it has the heart radical 忄 on the left. The right part 艮 (gèn) gives the sound, so think of a heart that stubbornly holds on to bad feelings.
恨 is a strong word for hating or resenting someone, and it can also mean regretting something. In daily speech it often appears in 恨不得 (hènbude), meaning you wish you could do something right away. Example: 我恨不得马上回家。(Wǒ hènbude mǎshàng huí jiā.) I wish I could go home right now.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 恨 (hèn) with 很 (hěn, very), which has the same right part 艮 but the step radical 彳 and a third tone. Remember that the heart 忄 goes with the emotion and the falling fourth tone.
Common words with 恨
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 仇恨 | chóuhèn | to hate; hatred | HSK 7-9 |
| 怨恨 | yuànhèn | to resent; to harbor a grudge against | HSK 7-9 |
| 恨不得 | hènbude | wishing one could do sth; to hate to be unable; itching to do sth | HSK 7-9 |
| 悔恨 | huǐhèn | remorse; repentance | HSK 7-9 |
| 憎恨 | zēnghèn | to detest; hatred | |
| 痛恨 | tònghèn | to detest; to loathe | |
| 可恨 | kěhèn | hateful | |
| 怀恨在心 | huáihènzàixīn | to harbor hard feelings | |
| 恨意 | hènyì | rancor; hatred |
恨 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 恨
How many strokes are in 恨?
恨 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 恨 mean?
恨 (hèn) means to hate; to regret. A common word with it is 仇恨 (chóuhèn), meaning "to hate; hatred".
How do you pronounce 恨?
恨 is pronounced hèn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 恨?
The radical of 恨 is 忄, which carries the idea of "heart". Dictionaries list 恨 under this radical.
Is 恨 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 恨 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
Is 恨 too strong for everyday dislike?
Usually yes. 恨 suggests deep hatred or resentment. For mild dislike, people say 不喜欢 (bù xǐhuan) or 讨厌 (tǎoyàn).
What is the difference between 恨 and 悔恨?
恨 alone most often means to hate, though older or literary uses can mean regret. 悔恨 (huǐhèn) clearly means remorse about your own past actions.