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恩怨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
恩怨ēnyuàngratitude and grudgesHSK 7, n, rank #6690, Hard
恩怨ēnyuànresentmentHSK 7, n, rank #6690, Hard
恩怨ēnyuàngrudgesHSK 7, n, rank #6690, Hard
恩怨ēnyuàngrievancesHSK 7, n, rank #6690, Hard
ēnyuàn(en1yuan4) T1
  1. 1gratitude and grudges
  2. 2resentment
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March 24, 2026
恩怨ēnyuàn(en1yuan4)

The term 恩怨 (ēn yuàn) refers to the complex interplay of gratitude and resentment that can exist in relationships. It encapsulates the idea that positive and negative feelings can coexist, often stemming from past interactions or unresolved conflicts.

Frequency#6690DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 恩怨 is significant in understanding familial relationships and social dynamics, where past debts of gratitude or grievances can deeply affect current interactions and social harmony.

Memory Tip

Imagine a scale balancing a gift (恩, ēn) on one side and a grudge (怨, yuàn) on the other. The character 恩 resembles a hand holding a gift, while 怨 can be visualized as a person sulking over a past wrong. Together, they represent the delicate balance of gratitude and grievances in relationships.

Meanings of 恩怨

ēnyuàn(en1yuan4)
1gratitude and grudges
2resentment
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 恩怨

恩怨Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6690Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 恩怨

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Podcast: 恩怨

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AI Study Notes for 恩怨

Quick Contrast

恩情 (ēn qíng) vs 恨意 (hèn yì) — choose 恩怨 when highlighting the coexistence of gratitude and resentment, rather than just gratitude (恩情) or pure hatred (恨意).

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a scale balancing a gift (恩, ēn) on one side and a grudge (怨, yuàn) on the other. The character 恩 resembles a hand holding a gift, while 怨 can be visualized as a person sulking over a past wrong. Together, they represent the delicate balance of gratitude and grievances in relationships.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when using 恩怨, as it is often used in a serious context. It is more common in formal discussions about relationships or conflicts than in casual conversation. A common collocation is 恩怨情仇 (ēn yuàn qíng chóu), which refers to the emotional ties of gratitude and resentment.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 恩怨 connects well with other terms in this level that deal with emotions and relationships. Students should focus on understanding the nuances between similar terms like 愤怒 (fèn nù, anger) and 感激 (gǎn jī, gratitude). This will help in grasping the depth of human emotions expressed in Chinese.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 恩怨 is significant in understanding familial relationships and social dynamics, where past debts of gratitude or grievances can deeply affect current interactions and social harmony.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 恩怨 with other emotions. For example, saying '我对他有恩怨' is correct, but saying '我对他有仇恨' (I have hatred towards him) changes the meaning entirely, focusing only on negative feelings rather than the nuanced balance of gratitude and resentment.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 恩怨

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Component Characters

恩ēnkindness, mercy, charity
10 strokes心
View full entry
怨yuànto blame
HSK 79 strokes心
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Write 恩怨

恩
怨

Practice writing 恩怨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 恩怨

恩怨 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

杰弗里爵士对首相并无私人____。

Sir Geoffrey had no personal animosity towards the Prime Minister.

Example Sentences for 恩怨 (3)

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1
杰弗里爵士对首相并无私人恩怨。

jié fú lǐ jué shì duì shǒu xiāng bìng wú sī rén ēn yuàn。

Sir Geoffrey had no personal animosity towards the Prime Minister.
2
我对他不抱个人恩怨.

wǒ duì tā bù bào gè rén ēn yuàn.

I have no personal feelings against him.
3
他敲掉老头子,纯粹是出于生意的考虑, 而不是个人恩怨.

tā qiāo diào lǎo tóu zǐ, , chún cuì shì chū yú shēng yì de kǎo, lǜ , ér bù shì gè rén.

And his knocking off the old man is purely business, nothing personal.

Cultural Notes for 恩怨

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 恩怨 is significant in understanding familial relationships and social dynamics, where past debts of gratitude or grievances can deeply affect current interactions and social harmony.

Frequently Asked Questions about 恩怨

No, 恩怨 captures both positive (恩) and negative (怨) emotions, reflecting the complexity of human relationships.