内疚

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 没能帮上忙,他感到很内疚。▶ —
   Unable to help, he felt very guilty.
2. 对不起,我心里一直很内疚。▶ —
   I’m sorry; I’ve felt guilty inside all along.

Collocations

Mnemonic

内 nèi "inner" + 疚 jiù "chronic ailment/remorse": "guilty, remorseful". The inside (内) is sick (疚) with a bad conscience. Where 后悔 is "I wish I hadn’t", 内疚 is the heavy guilt of having wronged someone. Opposite of 心安 (clear conscience). Similar to 愧疚.

Related

Quick check

1. What does 内疚 mean?

   • heavy with a guilty conscience
   • very glad
   • furious
   • unbothered