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How to say 'Regret' in Japanese | 後悔

Wondering how to say 'Regret' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Regret is 'Koukai', written as 後悔 in Japanese.'Regret' in hiragana is こうかい.

    word

    後悔

    Meaning

    Regret

    Reading

    こうかい

    koukai

    Kanji

    後After, Behind 悔Repent, Regret

    Explanation

    The Japanese verbal noun '後悔 (こうかい)' means 'regret'. It refers to the feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or something one has done. It is often used to express remorse or a wish that things had been done differently. For example: I regret not studying harder「もっと勉強しなかったことを後悔している」(もっとべんきょうしなかったことをこうかいしている). He regrets his decision「彼は自分の決断を後悔している」(かれはじぶんのけつだんをこうかいしている). This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to express personal feelings of regret.

    Part Of Speech

    verbal noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N1

    Kanji Grade

    8

    Frequency

    4782

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 後悔

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    後

    Meaning

    After, Behind

  • kanji

    悔

    Meaning

    Repent, Regret

Words Related to 後悔 Through the Kanji 後

These 24 Words contain the Kanji 後 as well.

  • word

    後

    Meaning

    After

  • word

    最後

    Meaning

    End

  • word

    明後日

    Meaning

    Day after tomorrow

  • word

    今後

    Meaning

    Future

  • word

    後ろ

    Meaning

    Back

  • word

    戦後

    Meaning

    Postwar

  • word

    午後

    Meaning

    Afternoon

  • word

    前後

    Meaning

    Approximately, Before and after

  • word

    以後

    Meaning

    After, Hereafter

  • word

    後半

    Meaning

    Second half

  • word

    後ろ向き

    Meaning

    Backward

  • word

    明々後日

    Meaning

    Day after tomorrow

  • word

    後書き

    Meaning

    Postscript

  • word

    直後

    Meaning

    Immediately after

  • word

    背後

    Meaning

    Behind

  • word

    後回し

    Meaning

    Postponement

  • word

    後者

    Meaning

    Latter

  • word

    後戻り

    Meaning

    Retreat, Backtrack

  • word

    後片付け

    Meaning

    Tidying

  • word

    後輩

    Meaning

    Junior

  • word

    死後

    Meaning

    Afterlife

  • word

    後期

    Meaning

    Second, Later

  • word

    後方

    Meaning

    Rear, Back

  • word

    後見

    Meaning

    Guardianship

Words Related to 後悔 Through the Kanji 悔

This Word contains the Kanji 悔 as well.

  • word

    悔しい

    Meaning

    Frustrating

Learn the Word 後悔

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What does 'Koukai' (後悔) mean?

'Koukai' means 'Regret' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.