The Chinese word 憎恶 (zēng wù) translates to 'hatred,' 'abhorrence,' or 'loathing.' It is a strong, formal noun and verb used to express deep-seated disgust or intense dislike toward something, usually abstract concepts, immoral behaviors, or societal injustices. Unlike the common word 讨厌 (tǎo yàn), which means 'to dislike' or 'annoying' and is used for everyday grievances, 憎恶 carries a profound emotional weight. You would not use 憎恶 to describe your feelings about a food you do not like; instead, you use it to describe your feelings toward corruption, betrayal, or cruelty.
- Emotional Intensity
- Very high. It represents a fundamental rejection and moral outrage.
他对这种虚伪的行为感到非常 憎恶。
In everyday conversation, people use simpler words. However, in literature, news writing, formal speeches, and serious discussions about ethics, 憎恶 is the perfect word to convey an uncompromising stance. It shows that the subject is not merely unpleasant, but fundamentally wrong or repulsive to the speaker's core values.
- Common Contexts
- Used in political discourse, literary critiques, and moral judgments.
人民对贪腐现象深恶痛绝，充满 憎恶。
Understanding when to deploy this word elevates your Chinese from conversational to advanced. It signals to native speakers that you grasp the nuances of emotional vocabulary and moral expression in Mandarin.
- Part of Speech
- Can function as both a transitive verb (to abhor something) and a noun (the feeling of abhorrence).
这种暴行引起了全世界的 憎恶。
她眼中闪过一丝 憎恶 的光芒。
出于对战争的 憎恶，他选择了和平主义。
Mastering the sentence structure for 憎恶 requires understanding its dual nature as a noun and a verb. When used as a verb, it directly takes an object, usually an abstract noun representing a concept, behavior, or extreme situation. For example, 憎恶谎言 (to abhor lies) or 憎恶暴力 (to loathe violence). You rarely see it followed by a simple physical object unless that object is a symbol of something greater.
- Verb Usage Pattern
- Subject + 憎恶 + Abstract Noun / Behavior.
我 憎恶 那些欺骗老年人的人。
When used as a noun, it often pairs with verbs like 引起 (to cause/arouse), 充满 (to be filled with), or 表达 (to express). It serves as the core emotion being discussed. For example, 引起了公众的憎恶 (aroused the public's abhorrence).
- Noun Usage Pattern
- Verb (like 引起/充满) + (Degree Modifier) + 憎恶.
这部纪录片唤起了人们对环境破坏的强烈 憎恶。
It is also frequently used in passive constructions or formal descriptive sentences in literature. Authors use it to paint a vivid picture of a character's internal psychological state or moral alignment.
- Literary Pattern
- Subject + 心中充满 + 憎恶.
听到这个消息，他满心 憎恶。
她毫不掩饰自己对这种制度的 憎恶。
没有任何言语能表达我此刻的 憎恶。
While you might not hear 憎恶 when ordering food or chatting with friends about a movie, it is highly prevalent in specific, more elevated contexts. You will encounter this word frequently if you consume Chinese news media, read modern or classical Chinese literature, or watch historical dramas and legal thrillers.
- News and Politics
- Used to condemn international crimes, terrorism, or severe corruption.
国际社会对恐怖主义行径表示强烈 憎恶。
In literature, writers use it to establish a character's moral compass. A heroic character might feel 憎恶 toward injustice, while a villain might feel 憎恶 toward the weak. It is a powerful tool for characterization.
- Literature and Fiction
- Depicts deep psychological states and moral conflicts.
主人公的日记里写满了对那个冷酷社会的 憎恶。
You will also hear it in legal contexts or documentaries discussing heinous crimes, where the narrator describes the public's reaction to a serial killer or a massive fraud scheme.
- Legal and True Crime
- Describes the societal rejection of criminal acts.
受害者家属的眼中充满了悲伤与 憎恶。
法官在判词中表达了对这种罪行的 憎恶。
他对背叛的 憎恶 超过了对死亡的恐惧。
Because 憎恶 translates to English words like 'hate' or 'dislike', learners often make mistakes regarding its severity, its pronunciation, and its appropriate contexts. The most frequent error is using it for trivial, everyday annoyances.
- Mistake 1: Over-dramatization
- Using 憎恶 for food, weather, or minor inconveniences.
Wrong: 我 憎恶 吃胡萝卜。
Right: 我讨厌吃胡萝卜。
Another major mistake is the pronunciation of the second character. The character 恶 has multiple pronunciations: 'è' (evil), 'ě' (nausea), and 'wù' (to hate). In this word, it must be pronounced 'wù'.
- Mistake 2: Pronunciation Error
- Saying 'zēng è' instead of 'zēng wù'.
Correct pronunciation is zēng wù, reflecting the verbal meaning of 'to hate'.
Lastly, learners sometimes struggle with the grammar when using it as a noun, forgetting to use the preposition 对 (towards) when specifying the target of the hatred.
- Mistake 3: Missing Prepositions
- Saying '他的谎言憎恶' instead of '他对谎言的憎恶'.
Wrong: 他表现出敌人 憎恶。
Right: 他表现出对敌人的 憎恶。
Keep the structure '对 + target + 的 + 憎恶' in mind for noun usages.
Always double-check if the context is serious enough for this word.
Chinese has a rich vocabulary for expressing dislike, ranging from mild annoyance to absolute detestation. Understanding where 憎恶 fits on this spectrum is crucial for precise communication. Let's compare it with some common synonyms and alternatives.
- 讨厌 (tǎo yàn) vs. 憎恶 (zēng wù)
- 讨厌 is casual and means 'dislike' or 'annoying'. 憎恶 is formal and means 'abhor' or 'hate deeply'. Use 讨厌 for bad weather, use 憎恶 for evil deeds.
我讨厌下雨天，但我 憎恶 战争。
Another related word is 仇恨 (chóu hèn), which translates to 'hatred' but specifically implies a personal grudge, enmity, or a desire for revenge. 憎恶 does not necessarily involve a personal grudge; it can be an objective moral stance against something wrong.
- 仇恨 (chóu hèn) vs. 憎恶 (zēng wù)
- 仇恨 implies an enemy (仇) and personal vengeance. 憎恶 is a strong feeling of disgust and rejection, often moral.
他们之间有家族仇恨，而他对这种复仇行为感到 憎恶。
By choosing the right word from this group, you can precisely calibrate the emotional temperature of your Chinese sentences.
- Summary of Alternatives
- 讨厌 (mild), 厌恶 (disgust), 痛恨 (bitter hatred), 仇恨 (enmity).
他对腐败的 憎恶 是出了名的。
这不仅是厌恶，而是深深的 憎恶。
用词要准确，才能传达出真实的感受。
수준별 예문
我不喜欢这个，我憎恶它。
I don't like this, I abhor it. (Used to show extreme contrast)
Subject + 憎恶 + Object.
他憎恶坏人。
He hates bad people.
Simple SVO structure.
大家憎恶谎言。
Everyone hates lies.
Using abstract noun as object.
她看着他，心里很憎恶。
She looked at him, feeling a lot of hatred in her heart.
心里 + 憎恶 (In the heart + hatred).
我不憎恶你。
I do not hate you.
Negative form: 不 + 憎恶.
他们憎恶战争。
They hate war.
Subject + 憎恶 + Noun.
这是一种憎恶。
This is a kind of hatred.
Used as a noun.
他憎恶工作。
He loathes work.
Subject + verb.
我非常憎恶这种不公平的规定。
I extremely abhor this unfair rule.
Adverb 非常 + 憎恶.
他对这种行为感到憎恶。
He feels abhorrence toward this behavior.
对...感到 + 憎恶.
她从来没有掩饰过自己的憎恶。
She has never hidden her hatred.
掩饰 (hide) + 憎恶.
这种动物让人感到憎恶。
This animal makes people feel loathing.
让人感到 (makes people feel) + 憎恶.
他的话引起了我的憎恶。
His words aroused my abhorrence.
引起了 (aroused) + 憎恶.
不要把讨厌变成憎恶。
Do not turn dislike into hatred.
变成 (become/turn into).
出于憎恶，他离开了那里。
Out of hatred, he left that place.
出于 (Out of) + 憎恶.
我憎恶那些欺负弱小的人。
I hate those who bully the weak.
憎恶 + descriptive noun phrase.
社会公众对贪污腐败现象深感憎恶。
The public feels deep abhorrence toward corruption.
对...深感 (deeply feel) + 憎恶.
她用一种充满憎恶的眼神看着那个骗子。
She looked at the scammer with a look full of loathing.
充满憎恶的 (full of hatred) + Noun.
这部电影真实地展现了人们对战争的憎恶。
This movie realistically shows people's abhorrence of war.
展现了 (showed) + 对...的憎恶.
他内心深处隐藏着对这个世界的憎恶。
Deep in his heart hides a hatred for this world.
隐藏着 (hiding) + 憎恶.
我们应该憎恶罪恶，而不是罪人。
We should hate the sin, not the sinner.
憎恶 A, 而不是 (and not) B.
强烈的憎恶使他失去了理智。
Intense hatred made him lose his mind.
强烈的 (intense) + 憎恶.
表达憎恶的方式有很多种。
There are many ways to express abhorrence.
表达 (express) + 憎恶.
他之所以这样做，完全是出于对虚伪的憎恶。
The reason he did this was entirely out of an abhorrence for hypocrisy.
完全是出于 (entirely out of).
这位作家在小说中倾注了对封建礼教的强烈憎恶。
The author poured his intense abhorrence of feudal ethics into the novel.
倾注了 (poured into) + 憎恶.
历史证明，暴政最终会招致人民的普遍憎恶与反抗。
History proves that tyranny will ultimately incur the universal abhorrence and resistance of the people.
招致 (incur) + 普遍憎恶 (universal abhorrence).
她试图压抑心中的憎恶，但那感觉却如野草般疯长。
She tried to suppress the loathing in her heart, but the feeling grew wildly like weeds.
压抑 (suppress) + 心中的憎恶.
他对任何形式的道德绑架都抱有深深的憎恶。
He holds a deep abhorrence for any form of moral kidnapping.
抱有 (hold/harbor) + 深深的憎恶.
在那种极端环境下，人性的丑恶暴露无遗，令人憎恶。
In that extreme environment, the ugliness of human nature was completely exposed, making one feel abhorrence.
令人 (makes one) + 憎恶.
这种根深蒂固的偏见，源于无知和盲目的憎恶。
This deep-rooted prejudice stems from ignorance and blind hatred.
盲目的 (blind) + 憎恶.
评论家对这部粉饰历史的电影表达了毫不掩饰的憎恶。
Critics expressed undisguised abhorrence toward this movie that whitewashes history.
毫不掩饰的 (undisguised) + 憎恶.
与其沉浸在憎恶中，不如寻找改变现状的方法。
Rather than wallowing in hatred, it's better to find ways to change the status quo.
沉浸在 (immersed in) + 憎恶中.
鲁迅的笔触犹如匕首，直刺他所憎恶的国民劣根性。
Lu Xun's brushwork is like a dagger, piercing directly into the deep-rooted bad habits of the national character that he abhorred.
他所憎恶的 (that which he abhorred).
在哲学家看来，对平庸的憎恶往往是追求卓越的开端。
In the eyes of philosophers, the abhorrence of mediocrity is often the beginning of the pursuit of excellence.
对...的憎恶.
那是一种夹杂着恐惧、绝望与深深憎恶的复杂情感。
That was a complex emotion mixed with fear, despair, and deep loathing.
夹杂着 (mixed with) + 憎恶.
他以一种近乎偏执的狂热，宣泄着对虚无主义的憎恶。
With an almost paranoid fanaticism, he vented his abhorrence of nihilism.
宣泄着 (venting) + 憎恶.
这种对异己的本能憎恶，是导致群体撕裂的深层原因。
This instinctive abhorrence of dissidents is the underlying cause leading to the tearing apart of the group.
本能憎恶 (instinctive abhorrence).
字里行间流露出的憎恶之情，让人不寒而栗。
The feeling of abhorrence revealed between the lines makes one shudder with cold.
憎恶之情 (feeling of abhorrence).
他将自己对现实的憎恶升华为了震撼人心的艺术创作。
He sublimated his abhorrence of reality into soul-stirring artistic creation.
将...憎恶升华为 (sublimate hatred into).
面对历史的浩劫，任何轻描淡写的宽恕都显得极其可疑，唯有憎恶才是真实的底色。
Facing the catastrophe of history, any understated forgiveness seems extremely suspicious; only abhorrence is the true underlying color.
唯有憎恶 (only abhorrence).
孟子所谓‘羞恶之心’，其中之‘恶’，便是对不义之举的天然憎恶，此乃义之端也。
Mencius's so-called 'heart of shame and dislike', the 'dislike' in it, is the natural abhorrence of unrighteous acts; this is the beginning of righteousness.
Classical reference explaining the character 恶.
在陀思妥耶夫斯基的宇宙中，对罪恶的极度憎恶往往与对救赎的极度渴望同源共生。
In Dostoevsky's universe, the extreme abhorrence of sin often shares the same origin and coexists with the extreme desire for redemption.
极度憎恶 (extreme abhorrence).
这种体制化的冷漠，最终酝酿出了一场以憎恶为燃料的社会风暴。
This institutionalized apathy ultimately brewed a social storm fueled by abhorrence.
以憎恶为燃料 (fueled by abhorrence).
剥离了道德外衣后，那赤裸裸的利益算计令人心生难以名状的憎恶。
Stripped of its moral guise, the naked calculation of interests gives rise to an indescribable abhorrence in one's heart.
관련 콘텐츠
emotions 관련 단어
有点
A1조금, 약간. 형용사 앞에 쓰여 부정적인 느낌이나 불만을 나타낼 때 사용합니다.
一点
A1조금, 약간. 어떤 것의 적은 양을 나타냅니다.
可恶
A2얄밉다；가증스럽다. 강한 반감이나 화를 표현할 때 사용됩니다.
心不在焉
A2마음이 딴 데 가 있다; 건성으로 듣다.
接受地
A2그는 비판을 수용적으로 받아들였다.
成就感
B1어려운 일을 해냈을 때 느끼는 성취감.
撒娇
A2To act like a spoiled child; to act cute.
上瘾
B1어떤 것에 강한 의존성을 갖게 되어, 끊기 어렵게 되는 것. 종종 건강하지 못한 정도.
沉迷
A2그는 게임에 침미하여 학업을 소홀히 하고 있다.
敬佩
B1존경하다; 감탄하다. 누군가의 성격이나 행동에 대한 깊은 존경심을 표현할 때 사용된다.
