憾

A phono-semantic compound:

心 (“heart, mind”) — semantic element, indicating feelings/emotions.

感 (gam / gǎn, “to feel, to sense”) — phonetic element, also carrying emotional nuance.

Original sense: an emotional feeling of dissatisfaction or regret in the heart.

遺憾 (유감) — regret; unfortunate; pity

抱憾 (포감) — to carry regret, remorse

憾事 (감사) — regrettable event

無憾 (무감) — without regret

千載憾 (천재감) — eternal regret, lasting grievance

憾 emphasizes emotional dissatisfaction stronger than simple “regret” (悔). It implies a lasting, often unavoidable disappointment.

Frequently used in formal, literary, and political contexts to express regret over an unfortunate situation (e.g., “遺憾으로 생각한다” = “we regret this”).

In classical usage, can also imply resentment, grievance.

In Confucian thought, 憾 represents the inescapable sorrow of unfulfilled duty or missed opportunity. It reflects the emotional weight of not living up to ideals, but without the clear moral agency implied in 悔 (“to repent and correct”).

In Buddhism, 憾 can be read as a form of attachment to past suffering or disappointment—a clinging to what cannot be undone. In this sense, freedom from 憾 is part of liberation from worldly attachments.

In literature, 憾 often conveys the tragedy of life’s impermanence—“抱憾終身” (“to carry regret for a lifetime”) contrasts with “無憾” (“to live with nothing to regret”).