怀恨在心

懷恨在心

huáihènzàixīn

idiom

Meanings

1 to harbor hard feelings (idiom)
2 to nurse a grudge
3 to hold resentment in one's heart

Characters

to harbor; hold

hatred; resentment

Examples

他因为那件事怀恨在心，一直想报复。

Tā yīnwèi nà jiàn shì huáihènzàixīn, yīzhí xiǎng bàofù.

He has been nursing a grudge over that incident and has long wanted revenge.

别怀恨在心，事情已经过去了。

Bié huáihènzàixīn, shìqing yǐjīng guòqù le.

Don't hold a grudge — it's in the past.

他表面上不说，其实怀恨在心。

Tā biǎomiàn shàng bù shuō, qíshí huáihènzàixīn.

He says nothing on the surface, but inwardly holds a grudge.

Tips

history

From Feng Menglong's Ming-dynasty 《警世通言》 volume 24 — the Su San ('Yu Tangchun') story. The county magistrate accuses the poisoner Pi Shi of 怀恨在心 toward her husband for favoring a new mistress, leading to murder. The phrase captured the quiet simmering resentment so well that it became the standard term.

register

Negative, somewhat heavy. Implies resentment that has been kept hidden and may lead to revenge. Common in novels, news about revenge crimes, and workplace office politics.

Stroke Order

怀 huái

恨 hèn

在 zài

心 xīn