Remorse

英语词汇
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词性：adj.
音标： [rɪˈmɔrs]
释义： a feeling of deep regret

Synonyms: contriteness, contrition, guilt, penitence, regret, remorsefulness, repentance, rue, self-reproach, shame

Remorse, a noun, is what you feel if you regret your actions or wish for another outcome.

The noun remorse has a very vivid origin. It comes from the Latin roots re for “again” and mordere “to bite.” So, if you feel remorse, it means that your conscience is working on you, your past actions are biting you back, and making you feel very regretful. Synonyms for this word are “penitence,” “rue,” and “contrition.” If you took a cookie from the cookie jar and ate it you can’t return it; all you can feel is remorse for what you did!

How is the word remorse distinct from other similar nouns?
Some common synonyms of remorse are compunction, contrition, penitence, and repentance. While all these words mean “regret for sin or wrongdoing,” remorse suggests prolonged and insistent self-reproach and mental anguish for past wrongs and especially for those whose consequences cannot be remedied.

thieves untroubled by feelings of remorse

When is compunction a more appropriate choice than remorse?
While in some cases nearly identical to remorse, compunction implies a painful sting of conscience especially for contemplated wrongdoing.

had no compunctions about taking back what is mine

When is it sensible to use contrition instead of remorse?
The words contrition and remorse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, contrition stresses the sorrowful regret that constitutes true penitence.

tearful expressions of contrition

When would penitence be a good substitute for remorse?
The synonyms penitence and remorse are sometimes interchangeable, but penitence implies sad and humble realization of and regret for one’s misdeeds.

absolution is dependent upon sincere penitence

When might repentance be a better fit than remorse?
The words repentance and remorse can be used in similar contexts, but repentance adds the implication of a resolve to change.

repentance accompanied by a complete change of character

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And… he had no remorse over his actions to crush his victim.

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Don’t you feel remorse for what you have done?

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Ferrie was the only one to express any kind of remorse about the whole thing.

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  • Without any remorse! - No remorse.
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You’ve never felt remorse.

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@Chatbot 你是一个英语教学的大师，你会用通俗易懂的方式给学生讲解各类英语知识，现在请你给我解释下上面帖子中我着重讲解的单词，介绍下这些单词在正式文书和口语中的各类含义，各举几个地道，自然的例子。介绍下这些单词的来历，以及我如何才能记住这些单词呢？

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当然，我很乐意帮你详细讲解一下"remorse"这个单词，以及它的近义词和用法，让你更好地理解和记住它们。

1. Remorse（悔恨，懊悔）

含义：

  • 正式文书中：通常指的是对过去行为的深深后悔，特别是那些无法补救的行为。例如：“The criminal showed no remorse for his actions.”
  • 口语中：也常用来表示对某事深感抱歉或感到内疚。例如：“I felt a lot of remorse after arguing with my best friend.”

词源：

  • 拉丁语 remordere (re- “再次” + mordere “咬”)，意思是“再次咬”，也就是说你过去的行为在不断"啃咬"你的良心，让你感到后悔。

记忆方法：

  • 联想"再咬一次"这个感觉，可以让你体会到这种不断内疚、不安的情绪。

例子：

  • “He felt a pang of remorse after lying to his mother.”
  • “Without any remorse, he left his family and never returned.”

2. Compunction（良心的谴责，内疚）

含义：

  • 正式文书中：更多用于表达良心的刺痛，尤其是考虑到可能做错的事情时。例如：“He had no compunction about stealing from the poor.”
  • 口语中：较少日常使用，形象地表达那种一瞬间刺痛的内疚。例如：“She felt a sharp compunction after breaking her promise.”

词源：

  • 拉丁语 compungere (com- “一起” + pungere “刺痛”)，即内心如被针刺一般的感觉。

记忆方法：

  • 你可以想象内心感到被痛刺，这样可以帮助你记住这种短暂而强烈的内疚感。

例子：

  • “I had no compunction about intervening in the argument.”
  • “Despite her compunctions, she went ahead with the plan.”

3. Contrition（悔悟，痛悔）

含义：

  • 正式文书中：指的是一种真正的悔悟之情，带有改过之意。例如：“Tearful expressions of contrition were observed during the confession.”
  • 口语中：较少使用，表示深深的懊悔及求原谅。例如：“His contrition was clear in his voice.”

词源：

  • 拉丁语 contritionem (contritio- “磨碎” + -tion 名词后缀)，意思是被磨碎的心境。

记忆方法：

  • 想象你的心像石头一样被不断磨碎，为自己的错误感到极度后悔。

例子：

  • “Her contrition was apparent after she sincerely apologized.”
  • “Without contrition, he offered a half-hearted excuse.”

4. Penitence（忏悔）

含义：

  • 正式文书中：体现出悲伤和谦卑的悔悟和对错误的后悔。例如：“Penitence is necessary for absolution.”
  • 口语中：偶尔使用，通常在宗教或深刻的情感场景中。例如：“He showed penitence in his eyes when he apologized.”

词源：

  • 拉丁语 paenitentia (paenitere “对……感到后悔”)，即一种内部的悔考。

记忆方法：

  • 联想一个陷入深深悔恨的人，表达真诚的忏悔。

例子：

  • “Her eyes were filled with penitence as she kneeled to pray.”
  • “The criminal expressed no penitence during the trial.”

5. Repentance（悔改）

含义：

  • 正式文书中：表示悔过并决心改变。例如：“His repentance was evident in his changed behavior.”
  • 口语中：较为常用，尤其是在描述一个人决意改过自新的情感时。例如：“She showed true repentance after realizing her mistakes.”

词源：

  • 拉丁语 paenitere，同样意为“感到后悔”，带有改变的意图。

记忆方法：

  • 记住一句话“悔改之后”，那种深刻的决心去改变过去行为。

例子：

  • “His repentance was not just in words but in actions.”
  • “She sought repentance for her past misdeeds.”

总结：

这些单词都有着深层的内心情感和行为对应，记住其特定的情感色彩和使用场景，能帮助你准确地使用它们。而记忆方法则可以通过联想内心的真实情感或具体场景来强化记忆。

希望这些解释和示例能帮助你更好地理解并掌握这些词汇！如果有任何其他问题，欢迎随时问我。