Meaning
遗憾 expresses a sense of regret, disappointment, or feeling that something is unfortunate or a pity. It conveys the emotional response to missed opportunities, unfulfilled wishes, or unfortunate outcomes. Unlike stronger words for regret involving guilt, 遗憾 often describes a wistful sadness about how things turned out.
Usage
Native speakers use 遗憾 in both formal and informal contexts to express mild to moderate regret. It's commonly used in the patterns '感到遗憾' (to feel regret), '很遗憾' (it's regrettable that), and '留下遗憾' (to leave regrets). It's softer and more polite than 后悔, which implies stronger personal regret about one's own actions.
Examples
- 01很遗憾，我不能参加你的婚礼。, .It's very regrettable that I cannot attend your wedding.
- 02没能见到她最后一面是我一生的遗憾。.Not being able to see her one last time is a regret I'll carry all my life.
Characters
Common collocations
- 感到遗憾to feel regret
- 很遗憾it's very regrettable
- 留下遗憾to leave regrets
- 深感遗憾to deeply regret
Antonyms
Origin
The character 遗 originally meant 'to leave behind' or 'lose,' while 憾 (with the heart radical 忄) means 'regret' or 'remorse.' Together they form a word describing the emotional state of having something regrettable left behind or unfulfilled.