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道Nihongo Path
悔

悔·regret

On-yomi
カイ
Kun-yomi
く(いる)く(やむ)くや(しい)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

9 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
後悔こうかいregret
悔しいくやしいfrustrating, galling
悔やむくやむto regret, mourn
悔いくいregret, remorse

Example sentences

  1. 最後に負けてとても悔しかった。

    さいごにまけてとてもくやしかった。

    Losing at the end was really galling.

  2. 今になって後悔しても遅い。

    いまになってこうかいしてもおそい。

    It is too late to regret it now.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 悔しい is frustration mixed with anger at oneself, not plain sadness.
  • お悔やみ (おくやみ) means condolences, not 'regret'.

Memory aid

Picture it

The heart radical 忄 beside 毎 (every) — a heart that goes over the same mistake every single time.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 悔 mean?