Kanji 悔: repent, regret

Key takeaways

Kanji 悔: repent, regret. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

悔

Meaning

repentregret

On reading

カイ

Kun reading

く.いるく.やむくや.しい

Radical

心

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 悔

repent, regret

Kanji structure breakdown

悔

Structure breakdown

忄 + 毎

Mnemonic story

Regret is a feeling that stays in your heart (忄) every (毎) single day, causing pain. Imagine your heart aching every time you think back on a mistake you made.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

カイ

後悔こうかい
regret / remorse

Kun reading

く.いる

悔しいくやしい
regrettable / frustrating / vexing
悔やむくやむ
to regret / to mourn

Commonly used words

後悔
こうかい
regret / remorse
悔しい
くやしい
regrettable / frustrating / vexing
悔やむ
くやむ
to regret / to mourn

Example sentences

Example 1

あの決断を後悔している。

Translation

I regret that decision.

Example 2

後悔しても遅いよ。

Translation

It’s too late to regret now.

Example 3

試合に負けてとても悔しいです。

Translation

I feel very frustrated after losing the match.

Example 4

あの時、言わなかったのが悔しい。

Translation

I regret not saying it back then.

Kanji 悔: repent, regret

Kanji at a glance

Core meaning / core image

Kanji structure breakdown

Mnemonic story

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

Kun reading

Commonly used words

Example sentences

後悔 (こうかい): meaning and examples

悔しい (くやしい): meaning and examples

悔やむ (くやむ): meaning and examples