Usage note
遗憾表示可惜或后悔的心情。
Yíhàn biǎoshì kěxī huò hòuhuǐ de xīnqíng.
Regret means a feeling of pity or remorse.
Context note
遗憾常用于表达对过去事情的惋惜。
Yíhàn chángyòng yú biǎodá duì guòqù shìqíng de wǎnxī.
Regret is often used to express pity about past events.
5 examples
没去公园很遗憾。
méi qù gōng yuán hěn yí hàn。
It's a regret not going to the park.
错过比赛是遗憾。
cuò guò bǐ sài shì yí hàn。
Missing the game is a regret.
他感到遗憾。
tā gǎn dào yí hàn。
He feels regret.
这是最大的遗憾。
zhè shì zuì dà de yí hàn。
This is the biggest regret.
不要留下遗憾。
bú yào liú xià yí hàn。
Don't leave regrets.
5 mini stories
没看到星星很遗憾。
méi kàn dào xīng xīng hěn yí hàn。
It's a regret not seeing the stars.
忘记带伞是遗憾。
wàng jì dài sǎn shì yí hàn。
Forgetting the umbrella is a regret.
他遗憾没吃蛋糕。
tā yí hàn méi chī dàn gāo。
He regrets not eating the cake.
错过火车很遗憾。
cuò guò huǒ chē hěn yí hàn。
Missing the train is a regret.
她遗憾没学会游泳。
tā yí hàn méi xué huì yóu yǒng。
She regrets not learning to swim.
Mini dialogue
Missing the Bus
A
我错过了公交车，真遗憾。
Wǒ cuòguò le gōngjiāochē, zhēn yíhàn.
I missed the bus, what a pity.
B
别担心，下一班很快就来。
Bié dānxīn, xià yī bān hěn kuài jiù lái.
Don't worry, the next one will come soon.
Can't Attend the Party
A
我不能参加你的生日聚会，很遗憾。
Wǒ bù néng cānjiā nǐ de shēngrì jùhuì, hěn yíhàn.
I can't attend your birthday party, I'm very sorry.
B
没关系，下次一起玩。
Méi guānxi, xià cì yīqǐ wán.
It's okay, let's play together next time.
Related words and contrasts
similar
可惜
kěxī
it's a pity; unfortunately
可惜 is used for mild regret, while 遗憾 can be deeper.
similar
后悔
hòuhuǐ
to regret (one's actions)
后悔 is stronger, often about personal mistakes.