Definition

Verb: * To feel regret, to feel remorseful, to repent: The state of feeling troubled, tormented, and blaming oneself for a bad thing that has happened or a mistake one has made. It implies a deep, often moral, sense of sorrow for one's own past actions or inactions.

Usage

• Expressing the cause of regret: The word is typically followed by a clause introduced by "vì" (because of/for) or "về" (about) to specify the reason for the regret.
  • Ân hận vì đã làm cho mẹ buồn. (To feel regret for having made one's mother sad.)
  • Ân hận về những lời nói thiếu suy nghĩ. (To feel remorse about thoughtless words.)
• Used as a predicate: It can be used directly to describe a person's state.
  • Anh ấy rất ân hận. (He feels very regretful.)
• Used as an adjective-like modifier: It can modify nouns to describe a characteristic stemming from regret.
  • ánh mắt ân hận (a regretful look)
  • lời xin lỗi đầy ân hận (a deeply remorseful apology)

Examples

• (She regrets not having listened to her parents' advice.)
• (I feel remorse about that hasty decision every day.)
• (After the accident, the driver appeared extremely remorseful.)
• (There is nothing to regret when one has tried one's best.)

Advanced Usage / Nuances

• "Ân hận" vs. "tiếc": While both can be translated as "regret," "ân hận" carries a much stronger emotional and moral weight, often involving guilt and self-reproach. "Tiếc" is more general and often used for feeling sorry about losing something (e.g., - to regret the loss of property) or missing an opportunity (e.g., - it's a pity I didn't go). "Ân hận" is more about one's own blameworthy actions.
• "Ân hận" vs. "hối hận": These are very close synonyms and are often used interchangeably. Some subtle distinctions may be perceived: "Hối hận" can sometimes emphasize a stronger desire to atone or change, closely linked with "repentance," while "ân hận" may emphasize the lingering, tormenting feeling of regret. However, in practice, the difference is minimal.
• "Ân hận" often implies that the regrettable event is in the past and cannot be changed, focusing on the internal emotional consequence.

Variants and Related Words

• Hối hận (verb): To repent, to feel remorse. (A very close synonym).
• Hối tiếc (verb): To regret. (Combines the meanings of and ).
• Day dứt (verb/adjective): To be tormented, nagged (by conscience, regret). Often used alongside or to describe the feeling of .
• Cắn rứt (verb): To gnaw at (one's conscience); to cause remorse. (e.g., - Conscience gnaws at him.)
• Ân hận (noun): The feeling of regret itself can be referred to as or .

Synonyms

• Hối hận: To repent, to feel remorse.
• Tiếc nuối: To feel regret (often for missed opportunities, less about guilt).
• Tự trách: To blame oneself.

Idioms / Set Phrases

• Ăn năn hối cải / Ăn năn hối hận: To show sincere repentance and desire for reform. (This phrase strongly implies a moral or religious repentance and a commitment to change).
• Không một chút ân hận: Without a shred of regret/remorse.
• Chết không nhắm mắt (vì ân hận): To die with one's eyes open (due to regret); to die with unresolved regrets. (A vivid idiom expressing profound, lifelong regret.)

verb

1. To feel regret, to feel regretful, to repent
   • ân hận vì đã làm việc gì
     to repent having done something
   • ân hận vì đã làm cho cha buồn phiền trước khi cha nhắm mắt
     to feel regret for having afflicted one's father before his death
   • ánh mắt ân hận
     regretful look
   • tôi không ân hận gì về chuyện thôi việc cả
     I feel no regret about leaving
   • vì nước vì dân thì dù chết cũng không có điều gì ân hận
     if it is for the country and the people that one has to lay down one's life, there is nothing to feel regretful about