tung3 fui3痛悔

Jyutpingtung3 fui3

Yaletung fui

Definition

To painfully regret or deeply repent.

writtenemotion

How it's used

Expressing deep, internal emotional suffering over past actions, this term carries a heavy, almost literary weight that is rarely used in casual, everyday banter. It is more common in written narratives, formal apologies, or dramatic contexts where the speaker wants to emphasize the severity of their remorse. Unlike the common 後悔, which is a neutral statement of regret, 痛悔 implies a visceral, painful experience that affects the person's state of mind.

Examples

keoi5佢zou6做co3錯zo2咗si6事，ji1依gaa1家hou2好tung3痛fui3悔。

He did something wrong and is now painfully regretful.

nei5你zou6做me1咩jiu3要gam3咁tung3痛fui3悔le1呢？

Why do you have to be so painfully regretful?

Common phrases

sam1深cit3切tung3痛fui3悔

deeply and painfully regret

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this in casual settings where 後悔 is more appropriate. Using 痛悔 to describe minor regrets, such as ordering the wrong meal, sounds overly dramatic and unnatural.