憎

A phono-semantic compound composed of:

心 (heart) — semantic component, indicating emotion or mental state

曾 (once; formerly) — phonetic component, providing the sound "증 / zēng"

The presence of 心 marks 憎 as an inner emotional response, specifically a negative one.

Unlike anger (怒) or fear (恐), 憎 emphasizes persistent emotional rejection rather than momentary reaction.

In Korean, 憎 typically appears in Sino-Korean compounds, conveying strong emotional weight.

증오 (憎惡) — hatred

애증 (愛憎) — love and hate

증심 (憎心) — a hateful heart

원한과 증오 — resentment and hatred

憎 describes deep-seated dislike, not mild annoyance. It is more enduring and reflective than sudden anger. It often implies moral or emotional judgment, not just instinctive dislike.

In classical texts, 憎 is frequently paired with 愛 (love), forming a moral contrast.

Related characters:

恨 — resentment; grudge

怒 — anger; rage

嫌 — dislike; aversion

惡 / 悪 — evil; to hate

愛 — love (conceptual opposite)

Classical citations:

《論語·里仁》 (The Analects, Li Ren)

「愛之欲其生，惡之欲其死」

“When one loves someone, one wishes them to live; when one hates them, one wishes them dead.”

Expresses the same emotional domain as 憎.

《孟子》 (Mencius)

「人之所憎，亦人之所惡」

“What people resent is also what they hate.”

Buddhist texts

「愛憎為苦本」

“Love and hatred are the roots of suffering.”