The Word “Regret”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages
Meaning of “Regret”
The word “regret” refers to a feeling of sadness, disappointment, or remorse over something that has happened or something that was not done. It often involves wishing that things had turned out differently, or that a certain decision had not been made. Regret can be associated with actions, words, or missed opportunities. It is an emotional response that reflects the desire to reverse or undo a past event.
“Regret” can also refer to a formal expression of sorrow or apology, often used in more official or polite contexts.
Usage of “Regret” in Different Contexts
- Personal Feelings (Emotional Regret):
“I regret not taking the job offer last year.” - Apology or Sorrow:
“I regret to inform you that the meeting has been canceled.” - Missed Opportunities:
“She regrets not traveling more when she was younger.” - Making Amends:
“He expressed his regret for the mistake he made in the report.” - Cultural/Philosophical:
“Many people live with the regret of unspoken words and missed chances.”
Translations of “Regret” in 30 Languages
The concept of regret is universally understood, but the word itself varies significantly across languages. Below are translations of “regret” in 30 languages, with example sentences showing its usage.
| Language | Translation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| English | Regret | “I regret not taking that opportunity.” |
| Spanish | Arrepentimiento | “Ella siente arrepentimiento por no haber ido a la fiesta.” (She feels regret for not going to the party.) |
| French | Regret | “Je regrette de ne pas avoir accepté l’offre.” (I regret not accepting the offer.) |
| German | Bedauern | “Er bedauert seine Entscheidung.” (He regrets his decision.) |
| Italian | Rimpianto | “Lui ha rimpianto di non aver studiato di più.” (He regretted not studying more.) |
| Portuguese | Arrependimento | “Ele se arrependeu de não ter ido ao evento.” (He regretted not attending the event.) |
| Russian | Сожаление (Sozhalenie) | “Она чувствует сожаление из-за своего решения.” (She feels regret about her decision.) |
| Chinese | 后悔 (Hòuhuǐ) | “我后悔没有早点告诉你。” (I regret not telling you earlier.) |
| Japanese | 後悔 (Kōkai) | “彼はその決断を後悔しています。” (He regrets that decision.) |
| Korean | 후회 (Huhwae) | “나는 그 일을 하지 않은 것을 후회한다.” (I regret not doing that work.) |
| Hindi | अफसोस (Afsos) | “मुझे उस दिन का अफसोस है।” (I regret that day.) |
| Bengali | আফসোস (Āphasōs) | “তাকে আফসোস হচ্ছে যে সে সময়মতো পৌঁছাতে পারেনি।” (She regrets not being on time.) |
| Turkish | Pişmanlık | “O pişmanlık duyuyor.” (He is filled with regret.) |
| Dutch | Spijt | “Ik heb spijt van mijn keuze.” (I have regret for my choice.) |
| Swedish | Ånger | “Jag känner ånger över mitt beslut.” (I feel regret over my decision.) |
| Norwegian | Anger | “Han føler anger for å ha gått glipp av muligheten.” (He feels regret for missing the opportunity.) |
| Greek | Μετάνοια (Metánoia) | “Νιώθω μετάνοια για την απόφασή μου.” (I feel regret for my decision.) |
| Polish | Żal | “Ona czuje żal, że nie pojechała na wakacje.” (She feels regret for not going on vacation.) |
| Czech | Lítost | “Cítí lítost nad svým rozhodnutím.” (He feels regret over his decision.) |
| Finnish | Katumus | “Hän tuntee katumusta valinnastaan.” (He feels regret about his choice.) |
| Hungarian | Bánat | “Azt kívánom, bárcsak ne tette volna.” (He regrets that he did it.) |
| Hebrew | חרטה (Harta) | “היא מרגישה חרטה על ההחלטה.” (She feels regret over the decision.) |
| Thai | เสียใจ (Sĭa jái) | “เขารู้สึก เสียใจ ที่ไม่ได้ไปงานเลี้ยง.” (He regrets not going to the party.) |
| Indonesian | Penyesalan | “Saya menyesal tidak melakukan itu.” (I regret not doing that.) |
| Malay | Penyesalan | “Saya menyesal tidak pergi ke sana.” (I regret not going there.) |
| Vietnamese | Hối hận | “Anh ấy hối hận vì không tham gia cuộc họp.” (He regrets not attending the meeting.) |
| Ukrainian | Каяття (Kayattya) | “Він відчуває каяття через своє рішення.” (He feels regret for his decision.) |
| Romanian | Regret | “Îi pare rău că nu a acceptat oferta.” (He regrets not accepting the offer.) |
| Swahili | Pole | “Nashukuru lakini pia pole kwa hili.” (I appreciate but I also feel regret for this.) |
| Persian | پشیمانی (Pashimāni) | “او از تصمیمش پشیمان است.” (He is regretful about his decision.) |
| Malayalam | ദു:ഖം (Dukhham) | “അവന് ആ തീരുമാനത്തില് ദു:ഖം തോന്നുന്നു.” (He feels regret about that decision.) |
| Tamil | வருந்துதல் (Varunduthal) | “அவள் தன் செயலுக்கு வருந்துகிறாள்.” (She regrets her actions.) |
| Arabic | ندم (Nadam) | “هو يشعر بـ الندم على قراره.” (He feels regret about his decision.) |
The word “regret” embodies an emotional response to past actions or missed opportunities. It often represents a desire to turn back time and make a different choice. Whether used in personal reflections, formal apologies, or philosophical discussions, regret is a deeply human experience. The translations of “regret” across different languages reflect this shared emotional experience, highlighting how universally this feeling is understood, regardless of cultural background.
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