Meaning
宽恕 means to forgive someone for their mistakes or wrongdoings, showing mercy and letting go of resentment. It carries a somewhat formal or literary tone and implies a generous, magnanimous act of pardoning. This word is more commonly used in written language, religious contexts, or serious discussions about moral issues.
Usage
宽恕 is more formal than the everyday word 原谅. It often appears in religious texts, formal apologies, legal contexts, and literary works. Native speakers use it when discussing serious transgressions or when emphasizing the nobility or difficulty of forgiveness. It's less common in casual conversation about minor issues.
Examples
- 01我希望你能宽恕我的过错。.I hope you can forgive my mistakes.
- 02学会宽恕是一种美德。.Learning to forgive is a virtue.
Characters
Common collocations
- 请求宽恕to ask for forgiveness
- 宽恕他人to forgive others
- 得到宽恕to receive forgiveness
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to generosity of spirit. 宽 originally meant 'wide' or 'spacious' and extended to mean 'lenient' or 'tolerant.' 恕 combines 如 (like) and 心 (heart), suggesting understanding another's heart as if it were your own—a Confucian concept of empathy and forgiveness.