What does 후회하다 mean?

후회하다 (hu-hoe-ha-da, huhoehada)

후회하다 (huhoehada) means to regret or feel sorry about past actions or decisions.

Meaning of 후회하다 in Korean

Definition & nuance

Core meaning and shades learners miss.

후회하다(hu-hoe-ha-da, huhoehada)

후회하다 is a verb that expresses regret or feeling sorry about something that has already happened.

Nuances

  • 후회하다 expresses regret or remorse about the past.
  • It usually takes a specific action or choice as its object.
  • 후회하다 can convey stronger feelings than simple disappointment.
  • It always refers to situations that have already happened.

When to use

daily conversation, self-reflection, giving advice, expressing emotions

In context

후회하다 is commonly used as ‘~을/를 후회하다’ to express regret or remorse about past actions or choices. It is appropriate in both casual and formal contexts.

Real-world examples

  • 나는 그때 말을 하지 않은 것을 후회해.

    na-neun geu-ttae mal-eul ha-ji an-eun geos-eul hu-hoe-hae., na neun geu ttae mal eul ha ji an eun geos eul hu hoe hae.

    Correct use with ‘~을/를 후회하다’ pattern.

  • 그는 시험을 잘 본 것을 후회한다.

    geu-neun si-heom-eul jal bon geos-eul hu-hoe-han-da., geu neun si heom eul jal bon geos eul hu hoe han da.

    Subject expresses a reasonable regret about an action.

  • 나는 후회하는 그 일을 다시 할 거야.

    na-neun hu-hoe-ha-neun geu il-eul da-si hal geo-ya., na neun hu hoe ha neun geu il eul da si hal geo ya.

    후회하다 refers to past events, so future action use is incorrect.

  • 후회하지 마, 괜찮아.

    hu-hoe-ha-ji ma, gwaen-chan-a., hu hoe ha ji ma, gwaen chan a.

    Natural emotional expression.

  • 그녀는 후회하고 있다.

    geu-nyeo-neun hu-hoe-ha-go iss-da., geu nyeo neun hu hoe ha go iss da.

    Correct present continuous form expressing emotion.

  • 후회할 거야 그 결정을.

    hu-hoe-hal geo-ya geu gyeol-jeong-eul., hu hoe hal geo ya geu gyeol jeong eul.

    Natural warning about future regret.

Quick quiz

  1. What does ‘후회하다’ mean?

    ‘후회하다’의 뜻은 무엇인가요?(‘hu-hoe-ha-da’uitteus-eunmu-eos-in-ga-yo?, ‘huhoehada’uitteuseunmueosingayo?)
  2. Which sentence is correct?

    다음 중 올바른 문장은?(da-eumjungol-ba-reunmun-jang-eun?, daeumjungolbareunmunjangeun?)
  3. In ‘~을/를 후회하다’, what does ‘~을/를’ represent?

    ‘~을/를 후회하다’에서 ‘~을/를’은 무엇을 나타내나요?(‘~eul, reulhu-hoe-ha-da’e-seo‘~eul, reulhuhoehada’eseo‘~eul, reul’eunmu-eos-eulna-ta-nae-na-yo?, reul’eunmueoseulnatanaenayo?)

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