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N2

Kanji 憎: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 憎: hate, detest

Key takeaways

Kanji 憎: hate, detest. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

憎
N2

Meaning

hatedetest

On reading

ゾウ

Kun reading

にく.むにく.いにく.らしいにく.しみ

Radical

心

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 憎

hate, detest

Kanji structure breakdown

憎

Structure breakdown

忄 + 曽

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Hatred is an emotion that forms when past grievances repeatedly (曽) build up in the heart (忄). It is easier to remember if you think of detesting (憎) someone as a feeling that has accumulated over time rather than appearing instantly.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ゾウ
  • 愛憎あいぞう

    love and hate feelings

Kun reading

にく.む
  • 憎しみにくしみ

    hatred / strong dislike / resentment

  • 憎いにくい

    hateful / detestable

  • 憎むにくむ

    to hate / to detest

  • 憎らしいにくらしい

    hateful / odious / detestable

Commonly used words

  • 愛憎
    あいぞう

    love and hate feelings

  • 憎しみ
    にくしみ

    hatred / strong dislike / resentment

  • 憎い
    にくい

    hateful / detestable

  • 憎む
    にくむ

    to hate / to detest

  • 憎らしい
    にくらしい

    hateful / odious / detestable

Example sentences

Example 1

彼の愛憎は複雑だ。

Translation

His feelings of love and hate are complicated.

Example 2

愛憎が入り混じった話だ。

Translation

It's a story mixed with love and hate.

Example 3

彼の態度に憎しみを感じた。

Translation

I felt hatred toward his attitude.

Example 4

憎しみはやがて許しに変わることもある。

Translation

Hatred can eventually turn into forgiveness.

Kanji 憎: hate, detest | Daily Nihongo