1.
regret; remorse; repentance
A feeling of sadness or disappointment about something one did or failed to do. Often used about past actions that cannot be undone.
あの時もっと努力していればと悔いが残る。
I regret not having tried harder back then.
悔いのない人生を送りたい。
I want to live a life without regrets.
彼は一生その悔いを抱えて生きた。
He lived his whole life carrying that regret.
あの時声をかけていれば、こんな悔いは残らなかっただろう。
If I had spoken up back then, I probably wouldn't have this regret.
試合に負けたのは悔しいが、全力を出し切ったので悔いはない。
Losing the match is frustrating, but I gave it everything I had, so I have no regrets.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 悔いが残る (to be left with regret; to regret)
- 悔いのない〜 (〜 without regret)
- 悔いを抱える (to carry regret)
- 悔い改める (to repent, to reform oneself)
USAGE:
悔い is more literary/formal than 後悔 and often appears in set phrases.
- 悔いのない人生 (a life without regrets)
- 悔いを残す (to leave behind regrets)
RELATED WORDS:
- 後悔 (regret - more common in everyday speech)
- 悔いる (to regret - verb)
- 悔やむ (to regret, to lament)
NOTE:
The phrase 悔いのない選択をする (to make a choice without regrets) is commonly used when facing important decisions.
Related Words
Related:
後悔 (regret)