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道Nihongo Path
怨

怨·grudge

On-yomi
エンオン
Kun-yomi
うら(む)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

9 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
怨恨えんこんgrudge, enmity
怨念おんねんdeep-seated grudge
怨むうらむto bear a grudge
怨霊おんりょうvengeful spirit

Example sentences

  1. 事件の動機は怨恨だったらしい。

    じけんのどうきはえんこんだったらしい。

    The motive for the crime seems to have been a grudge.

  2. この話には怨霊が出てくる。

    このはなしにはおんりょうがでてくる。

    A vengeful spirit appears in this story.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 怨 switches readings: 怨恨 is えんこん but 怨念 is おんねん.
  • For everyday 'to resent', 恨む is the standard spelling, not 怨む.

Memory aid

Picture it

夗 (a body curled over) sitting on a heart 心 — a heart bent double around an old injury.

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 怨 mean?