verb HSK 6
zēng hèn
to hate · to detest · to loathe

Meaning

憎恨 expresses intense dislike or hatred toward someone or something. It conveys a stronger emotional reaction than simple dislike (不喜欢), representing deep-seated animosity or resentment. This word is commonly used in both spoken and written language when describing strong negative feelings.

Usage

憎恨 is a formal, emotionally intense word typically used in serious contexts. It often appears in literature, news reports, or when discussing historical grievances. In casual conversation, speakers might use 恨 alone or 讨厌 for milder negative feelings. The verb can take both people and abstract concepts as objects.

Examples

  1. 01
    他因为被背叛而憎恨那个曾经的朋友。
    yīn wèi bèi bèi pàn ér zēng hèn ge céng jīng de péng you.
    He hates that former friend because of the betrayal.
  2. 02
    人民憎恨一切形式的压迫和不公正。
    Rén mín zēng hèn qiè xíng shì de gōng zhèng.
    The people hate all forms of oppression and injustice.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 憎恨战争
    zēng hèn zhàn zhēng
    to hate war
  • 深深憎恨
    shēn shēn zēng hèn
    to deeply hate
  • 充满憎恨
    chōng mǎn zēng hèn
    filled with hatred

Antonyms

Origin

Both characters contain the heart radical (心/忄), emphasizing the emotional nature of hatred. 憎 combines the heart radical with 曾 (once, already), while 恨 combines heart with 艮 (stubborn). Together they form a compound that intensifies the meaning of hatred.

Related