冤

It expresses the feeling of being wronged — suffering injustice without fault. It often conveys deep emotional resentment arising from unfair treatment.

A compound ideograph consisting of:

冖 — cover; to cover;

兔 — rabbit.

The traditional explanation interprets the character as depicting a rabbit covered or trapped, symbolizing helplessness and unjust suffering.

The image evokes the idea of an innocent creature caught or oppressed — hence the extended meaning of grievance or wrongful accusation.

Over time, the character became strongly associated with legal injustice and emotional resentment.

원통 (冤痛) — bitter resentment; grievous injustice

원한 (冤恨) — deep resentment

신원 (伸冤) — to redress injustice

억울 (抑鬱 / 冤屈) — unjust; wronged

冤 differs from related characters:

怨 — resentment; hatred

恨 — hatred; regret

屈 — oppression; humiliation

罪 — crime; guilt

While 怨 emphasizes emotional resentment, 冤 stresses injustice — being wrongfully accused or treated unfairly.

It carries both legal and emotional weight.

In East Asian legal terminology, 冤 is central in the concept of wrongful conviction.

It frequently appears in historical dramas and narratives concerning unjust punishment.

Classical citations:

《史記》 (Records of the Grand Historian)

「含冤負屈」

“To bear injustice and humiliation.”

《後漢書》 (Book of the Later Han Dynasty)

「為人所冤」

“To be wronged by others.”

These examples show its frequent association with unjust treatment and moral suffering.