Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
遗憾(遺憾)yíhàn(yi2han4)
遗憾 (yí hàn) refers to a feeling of regret or sorrow about something that has happened or an opportunity that has been missed. It is commonly used in both personal and formal contexts to express disappointment or a sense of loss, often reflecting on past decisions or events.
Frequency#1143DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing 遗憾 is often tied to the concept of 'face' (面子), where acknowledging regret can be a way to show humility and sincerity, especially in formal settings. This reflects the importance of interpersonal relationships and the emotional weight of missed opportunities.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing in front of a beautiful painting that they missed the chance to buy, feeling a deep sense of regret. The character 遗 (yí) resembles someone reaching out to grab something that slipped away, while 憾 (hàn) can be visualized as a heartache over lost chances, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 遗憾
yíhàn(yi2han4)
1regret
2to regret
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 遗憾
遗憾Simplified
遺憾Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#1143Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 遗憾
Podcast: 遗憾
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 遗憾
Quick Contrast
遗憾 (yíhàn) vs 失望 (shīwàng): Use 遗憾 when expressing regret about a missed opportunity, while 失望 conveys disappointment about unmet expectations.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person standing in front of a beautiful painting that they missed the chance to buy, feeling a deep sense of regret. The character 遗 (yí) resembles someone reaching out to grab something that slipped away, while 憾 (hàn) can be visualized as a heartache over lost chances, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; '遗' is pronounced with a rising tone (2nd tone), while '憾' is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone). Common collocations include '感到遗憾' (to feel regret) and '令人遗憾' (regrettable). It is typically used in formal or serious discussions rather than casual conversations.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 遗憾 connects with other emotional vocabulary, such as '悲伤' (bēi shāng, sadness) and '后悔' (hòu huǐ, to regret). Focus on using it in context to express feelings and improve your ability to discuss personal experiences or reflections.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing 遗憾 is often tied to the concept of 'face' (面子), where acknowledging regret can be a way to show humility and sincerity, especially in formal settings. This reflects the importance of interpersonal relationships and the emotional weight of missed opportunities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 遗憾 with 后悔. For example, saying '我遗憾我做错了' (I regret that I did wrong) is incorrect; it should be '我后悔我做错了'. Additionally, mixing up the tones can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 遗憾
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 遗憾 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 遗憾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 遗憾
遗憾 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
She made repeated mistakes during the competition and ultimately lost regrettably.
Example Sentences for 遗憾 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
遗憾的是，过于简单的情节使得这部电影差强人意。
yí hàn de shì， ， guò yú jiǎn dān de qíng jié shǐ dé zhè bù diàn yǐng chà qiáng rén。
Sadly, the film is let down by an excessively simple plot.
2
遗憾的是，这个快乐的故事结局却比较伤感。
yí hàn de shì， ， zhè gè kuài lè de gù shì jié jú què bǐ jiào shāng。
Unfortunately, this happy story finishes on a more sombre note.
3
“恐怕他生病了。”——“真是遗憾。”
“ “ kǒng pà tā shēng bìng。”——“ le 。”——“ zhēn shì。”
"I'm afraid he's ill." — "I'm sorry to hear that."
4
我很遗憾，这几乎完全是一厢情愿的想法。
wǒ hěn yí hàn， ， zhè jī hū wán quán shì yī xiāng qíng yuàn de xiǎng。
This, I am sorry to say, is almost entirely wishful thinking.
5
很遗憾，他在五六年前去世了。
hěn yí hàn， ， tā zài wǔ liù nián qián qù shì。
He died five or six years ago I'm sad to say.
6
开罗对此次攻击表示遗憾。
kāi luó duì cǐ cì gōng jī biǎo shì yí hàn。
From Cairo came expressions of regret at the attack.
7
很遗憾，我们不得不让住户挤在这些狭小的公寓里。
hěn yí hàn， ， wǒ mén bù dé bù ràng zhù hù jǐ zài zhè xiē xiá xiǎo de gōng yù。
Regrettably we have to house families in these inadequate flats.
8
埃莉诺不得不这么快就离开，真是太遗憾了。
āi lì nuò bù dé bù zhè mó kuài jiù lí kāi， ， zhēn shì tài yí hàn。
It is too bad that Eleanor had to leave so soon.
9
“太遗憾了，”格雷厄姆略带挖苦地说道。
“ “ tài yí hàn，” le ，” gé léi è mǔ lüè dài wā kǔ dì。
"What a pity," Graham said with a hint of sarcasm.
10
遗憾的是，这座房屋在1828年的火灾中大部分被烧毁。
yí hàn de shì， ， zhè zuò fáng wū1828 zài 1828 nián de huǒ zāi zhōng dà bù fēn bèi。
Sadly, most of the house was destroyed by fire in
Cultural Notes for 遗憾
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressing 遗憾 is often tied to the concept of 'face' (面子), where acknowledging regret can be a way to show humility and sincerity, especially in formal settings. This reflects the importance of interpersonal relationships and the emotional weight of missed opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions about 遗憾
You can say '我对错过这个机会感到遗憾' (I feel regret for missing this opportunity).
While it is often used in serious contexts, it can also express mild regret in everyday situations, such as missing an event.
遗憾 emphasizes a feeling of regret about something that cannot be changed, while 后悔 focuses more on regret about one's own actions or decisions.
