悔いる|くいるkuiru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto regret
    そのような悪わるい振る舞ふるまいは深ふかく悔くいなければならない。↗
    One must deplore such bad behavior.
Conjugation
Dictionary form悔いる(くいる)
Polite (masu)悔います(くいます)
Negative (nai)悔いない(くいない)
polite (masen)悔いません(くいません)
classical zu / nu悔いず・悔いぬ(くいず・くいぬ)
Past (ta)悔いた(くいた)
polite (mashita)悔いました(くいました)
Past negative (nakatta)悔いなかった(くいなかった)
polite (masen deshita)悔いませんでした(くいませんでした)
Te form悔いて(くいて)
Potential悔いられる(くいられる)
Passive悔いられる(くいられる)
Causative悔いさせる(くいさせる)
Causative passive悔いさせられる(くいさせられる)
Conditional (ba)悔いれば(くいれば)
tara悔いたら(くいたら)
Volitional悔いよう(くいよう)
polite (mashou)悔いましょう(くいましょう)
Imperative悔いろ(くいろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym後悔こうかいNeutralThe most common everyday word: a noun, or a verb with 「する」. You can use it for things you didn't do. 「悔いる」 is literary, centred on blaming yourself for a fault.
  • Synonym思い残すおもいのこすNeutralMeans leaving things undone or unfinished that still weigh on you, often in the negative 「思い残すことはない」. 「悔いる」 is self-reproach for what you did or didn't do.
  • Synonym悔恨かいこんWrittenA written-style noun for deep remorse over a wrongdoing, often in 「悔恨の念」. As a verb, use 「悔いる」 in writing or 「後悔する」 in everyday speech.
  • Related悔やむくやむNeutralCovers both regretting your own actions and mourning the dead. It stresses sorrow and regret, while 「悔いる」 stresses realizing you did wrong.
  • RelatedうらむWrittenWritten as 「憾む」 it means to regret, in formal prose, often in 「憾むらくは」; written as 「恨む」 it means to resent someone, which has nothing to do with regret.
  • Related悔しがるくやしがるNeutralDescribes someone outwardly showing vexation or bitterness; mostly used of others. 「悔いる」 is inward regret over your own fault.
  • Related無念がるむねんがるWrittenDescribes someone looking chagrined or full of regret; rare and fairly literary. 「悔いる」 centres on blaming yourself for a fault.
  • Related残念に思うざんねんにおもうNeutralA plain way to say you find something regrettable or a pity; the object isn't limited to your own faults. 「悔いる」 puts more weight on self-reproach.
  • Related残念がるざんねんがるNeutralDescribes someone visibly regretting or lamenting an outcome; mostly used of others. 「悔いる」 is the regret you feel inside for what you did.
  • Antonym誇るほこるNeutralAntonym: to take pride in your strengths or achievements, the opposite of regretting what you have done.
  • Antonym満足するNeutralAntonym: to be content and free of regrets, the opposite of regretting what you have done.

Use 「悔いる」 for regretting and blaming yourself over something you did; it has a written, formal flavour, as in 「罪を悔いる」. In everyday speech say 「後悔する」. For mourning or regret in a broader sense, 「悔やむ」 and 「残念に思う」 fit better.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 自分じぶんのした行為こういについて悪わるかったと気付きづき残念ざんねんに思おもう。
Kanji in this word

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