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B1 noun #5,000 most common 8 min read

罪恶感

zu2i 0 Top 5,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 罪恶感 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 罪恶感 in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 罪恶感 (zuì è gǎn) is quite advanced. You don't need to use it yet, but you might hear it in very simple stories. It means 'feeling bad because you did something wrong.' Think of it as a very strong version of 'I'm sorry.' At this level, you should focus on the character 感 (gǎn), which means 'feeling.' You already know words like 觉得 (juéde - to feel). 罪恶感 is just a specific kind of feeling. If you eat all the cookies and feel bad, that is a little bit of 罪恶感. Don't worry about writing it yet, just remember it's a 'bad feeling' inside your heart.

At the A2 level, you can start to recognize 罪恶感 in context. It is a noun. You can say '我有罪恶感' (I have a sense of guilt). You might use it when talking about food or small mistakes. For example, '我没做作业，我有罪恶感' (I didn't do my homework, I feel guilty). The word is made of 'crime' (罪), 'evil' (恶), and 'feeling' (感). Even if you didn't commit a real crime, Chinese people use this word to show they are very sorry in their hearts. It is a useful word for expressing deeper emotions than just '对不起'.

As a B1 learner, you should be able to use 罪恶感 in sentences to describe your feelings or the feelings of characters in a story. You should understand that it is a noun and often pairs with verbs like 感到 (to feel) or 产生 (to produce/arise). At this level, you can distinguish it from 内疚 (nèijiù). While 内疚 is common for daily life, 罪恶感 is more intense. You will see it in news articles or intermediate reading passages about psychology or social issues. It is an important word for discussing 'right and wrong' in Chinese.

At the B2 level, you should master the collocations of 罪恶感. You should be able to use phrases like '强烈的罪恶感' (strong sense of guilt) or '摆脱罪恶感' (to get rid of guilt). You should also understand its use in social commentary—for example, how people feel 罪恶感 about environmental issues or social inequality. You should be comfortable using it in both formal writing and casual conversation (like joking about 'guilty pleasures'). You should also know the difference between this and 羞耻感 (shame), understanding that 罪恶感 is about internal moral standards.

At the C1 level, you should explore the philosophical and cultural nuances of 罪恶感. This includes its role in 'guilt culture' vs. 'shame culture' and its usage in classical or modern literature. You should be able to discuss how the concept of 罪 (sin) has evolved in Chinese history and how the modern psychological term 罪恶感 is used in academic papers. You should also be able to use it metaphorically or in complex grammatical structures, such as '在罪恶感的驱使下' (driven by a sense of guilt). Your usage should be precise, reflecting the gravity of the term.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like understanding of 罪恶感. You can use it to discuss complex ethical dilemmas, legal theories, and theological concepts. You understand the subtle differences between 罪恶感, 负罪感, and 愧疚感 in professional psychological contexts. You can identify its use in high-level literature where it might be used to symbolize a character's existential crisis. You are also aware of how the term is manipulated in media and political discourse to evoke emotional responses from the public. Your command of the word is complete, including its historical etymology and modern socio-linguistic variations.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

罪恶感 in 30 Seconds

罪恶感 means 'guilt' or 'sense of wrongdoing' in Chinese.
It is a noun that describes a heavy, internal moral burden.
Commonly used with verbs like '感到' (feel) and '产生' (produce).
It can range from serious moral failings to casual 'guilty pleasures.'

The term 罪恶感 (zuì è gǎn) is a sophisticated psychological and moral descriptor in the Chinese language that translates most directly to "guilt" or a "sense of wrongdoing." It is a compound noun constructed from three distinct characters: 罪 (zuì) meaning crime or sin, 恶 (è) meaning evil or wickedness, and 感 (gǎn) meaning feeling or perception. Together, they describe an internal emotional state where an individual feels they have violated a moral, ethical, or social code. This word carries a heavier weight than simple regret (遗憾) or even standard shame (羞耻). It implies an active conscience that is weighing the self against a standard of goodness. In modern Chinese society, it is used in both serious contexts—such as discussing criminal behavior or deep moral failings—and in more lighthearted, colloquial contexts, such as the "guilt" one feels after breaking a diet or spending too much money on a luxury item.

Psychological Depth: It refers to the internal tension between one's actions and one's ideal self-image, often leading to a desire for atonement.

因为没能照顾好生病的母亲，他内心充满了罪恶感。(Because he couldn't take good care of his sick mother, his heart was filled with a sense of guilt.)

In a cultural sense, while Chinese culture is often categorized as a "shame culture" (where social standing and external perception matter), the concept of 罪恶感 highlights the internal, individualistic aspect of morality. It is the voice that speaks when no one else is watching. You will hear this word frequently in psychological counseling, religious sermons, and dramatic literature where a character's internal struggle is the focus. It is also a staple in "lifestyle" discussions, specifically regarding "guilty pleasures" (罪恶的快感). Understanding this word requires recognizing that it spans the spectrum from the trivial to the existential.

Colloquial Usage: Used jokingly when doing something indulgent: "吃这块蛋糕让我很有罪恶感" (Eating this cake makes me feel very guilty).

他为了成功而不择手段，但他从未有过任何罪恶感。(He used any means necessary to succeed, but he never had any sense of guilt.)

Mastering the usage of 罪恶感 involves understanding its typical collocations and grammatical roles. As a noun, it most frequently follows verbs of feeling or possession. The most common structure is [Subject] + [Verb] + 罪恶感. For instance, "感到罪恶感" (to feel guilt) or "产生罪恶感" (to develop a sense of guilt). Because it is a "feeling" (感), it can also be modified by intensifiers like "强烈的" (strong) or "深重的" (deep/heavy). When you want to say someone is plagued by guilt, you might use "深受罪恶感折磨" (deeply tortured by guilt).

Common Verb Pairings: 消除 (xiāochú) - to eliminate; 减轻 (jiǎnqīng) - to alleviate; 摆脱 (bǎituō) - to break free from.

这种罪恶感一直伴随着他，让他无法开始新的生活。(This sense of guilt has been accompanying him, making it impossible for him to start a new life.)

Another important grammatical pattern is the use of "充满" (chōngmǎn - to be full of). This is often used for dramatic effect in literature or personal venting. You can also use "带给" (dàigěi - to bring to) to describe how an action affects someone's conscience. For example, "撒谎会带给我巨大的罪恶感" (Lying brings me a huge sense of guilt). It is also worth noting that in casual conversation, the term is frequently shortened or used in a more flexible way to describe minor social transgressions, though the full three-character version remains the standard for clear expression.

Structure: [Action] + 让 + [Person] + 产生罪恶感: Example: 浪费食物让我产生罪恶感。(Wasting food makes me feel guilty.)

为了减轻内心的罪恶感，他决定向受害者道歉。(To alleviate the guilt in his heart, he decided to apologize to the victim.)

In the real world, 罪恶感 appears in several distinct domains. Firstly, in psychological and wellness circles, it is a key term used by therapists and in self-help books. You will hear it in discussions about mental health, specifically regarding how to deal with past mistakes or the pressure of societal expectations. Secondly, in legal and crime dramas, it is used to describe the motivation (or lack thereof) of a suspect. A prosecutor might argue that a defendant showed no 罪恶感 during the trial. Thirdly, in the modern digital and consumer space, it is increasingly used in the context of "guilty pleasures" (罪恶的快感) or "consumer guilt." If you follow Chinese social media influencers (like on Little Red Book or Weibo), you will often see them post about "zero guilt" (零罪恶感) snacks or lifestyles, meaning items that are healthy and don't make you feel bad about eating them.

Context: Media & Pop Culture: Often used in movie reviews to describe a character's internal conflict or the emotional weight of a plot twist.

这部电影深刻地探讨了战争幸存者的罪恶感。(This movie profoundly explores the survivor's guilt of war veterans.)

Furthermore, in everyday family life, parents might use the concept of guilt to discipline children, though they might use softer terms like "懂事" (sensible). However, in adult relationships, expressing 罪恶感 is a common way to signal sincere remorse during a deep apology. It is more formal and carries more weight than just saying "对不起" (sorry). In religious contexts, particularly within Chinese Christianity or Buddhism, the concept of 罪 (sin/fault) and the resulting 罪恶感 are central to the discussion of repentance and karma. You will hear it in sermons or read it in religious texts as a necessary step toward spiritual cleansing.

Context: Health & Diet: "这款低糖巧克力让你吃起来完全没有罪恶感。" (This low-sugar chocolate lets you eat it with absolutely no guilt.)

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 罪恶感 with similar-sounding or related emotional terms like 内疚 (nèijiù) or 惭愧 (cánkuì). While they all relate to feeling bad about something, their intensity and scope differ. 内疚 is more common for personal regrets or feeling you've let someone down, whereas 罪恶感 is much stronger, often implying a violation of a fundamental moral law or a "sinful" act. Using 罪恶感 when you just forgot to call your friend back might sound overly dramatic unless you are being intentionally hyperbolic. Another mistake is grammatical: learners often try to use it as an adjective (e.g., *我很罪恶感), but it is strictly a noun. You must use a verb like "有" or "感到" with it.

Mistake: Over-dramatization: Using 罪恶感 for minor social gaffes. Use 抱歉 (bàoqiàn) or 惭愧 (cánkuì) instead for small mistakes.

错误：我忘记带笔了，我有罪恶感。(Wrong: I forgot my pen, I have a sense of guilt.) -> Correct: 我觉得很不好意思。

Additionally, learners sometimes confuse 罪恶 (zuì'è), which is the noun "evil/crime," with 罪恶感, the "feeling of guilt." You can commit a 罪恶, but you feel a 罪恶感. Another nuance is the difference between 罪恶感 and 羞耻感 (xiūchǐ gǎn - shame). Guilt (罪恶感) is about what you *did*, while shame (羞耻感) is about who you *are*. In Chinese, these are distinct; 罪恶感 focus on the transgression of a rule, whereas 羞耻感 focuses on the loss of face or dignity. Confusing these can lead to a misunderstanding of the speaker's true emotional state. Finally, ensure you don't confuse it with 罪名 (zuìmíng), which is a legal charge or the name of a crime.

Grammar Error: Adjective Usage: Instead of saying "我很罪恶感," say "我很有罪恶感" or "我感到深深的罪恶感."

When you want to express feelings of regret or guilt, Chinese offers a rich spectrum of vocabulary beyond 罪恶感. Choosing the right one depends on the intensity of the emotion and the nature of the mistake. 内疚 (nèijiù) is perhaps the closest and most common alternative; it literally means "internal remorse" and is used for a wide range of situations, from hurting a friend's feelings to failing a responsibility. 惭愧 (cánkuì) is more about feeling ashamed because you haven't lived up to expectations or because someone else has been much kinder to you than you deserve. 自责 (zìzé) is the act of blaming oneself, focusing on the mental process of self-criticism rather than just the feeling.

Comparison: 罪恶感 vs. 内疚: 罪恶感 is heavier, often involving moral or religious "sin." 内疚 is more common for interpersonal regrets and daily mistakes.

看到父亲辛苦工作的样子，我为自己的懒惰感到惭愧。(Seeing my father working so hard, I feel ashamed of my own laziness.)

For even stronger emotions, 悔恨 (huǐhèn) denotes deep regret and resentment toward oneself for a past action that cannot be undone. On the lighter side, 不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi) is the go-to phrase for minor social awkwardness or mild embarrassment. If you want to describe a collective feeling, 负罪感 (fùzuì gǎn) is a near-synonym of 罪恶感, often used in more formal or psychological texts to describe the "burden" of guilt. Understanding these nuances allows you to express your emotions with precision, avoiding the drama of "sin" when you only mean "regret."

Other Related Terms: 亏欠 (kuīqiàn) - a feeling of owing someone; 羞耻 (xiūchǐ) - shame; 遗憾 (yíhàn) - regret (often for things outside one's control).

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '罪' was originally written differently, but the Emperor Qin Shi Huang changed it because the original character looked too much like the character for 'Emperor' (皇).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tsweɪ ɛ kæn/

US /tsweɪ ɛ ɡæn/

The stress is balanced across all three syllables, but the third syllable 'gan' often carries the lingering emotional weight.

Rhymes With

感 (gǎn) rhymes with 满 (mǎn - full) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 懒 (lǎn - lazy) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 散 (sǎn - scattered) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 饭 (fàn - rice/meal) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 办 (bàn - do) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 站 (zhàn - stand) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 喊 (hǎn - shout) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 简 (jiǎn - simple)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'zui' as 'zoo-ee' (it should be 'tsway').
Pronouncing 'e' as 'ee' (it should be a neutral 'uh' or 'eh' sound).
Forgetting the tones: 4th, 4th, 3rd.
Confusing 'gan' with 'gang'.
Treating it as two words instead of one compound noun.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The characters are common but the concept requires context.

Writing 4/5

The characters 罪 and 恶 have many strokes and are easy to miswrite.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to pronounce if you master the 'zui' sound.

Listening 3/5

Can be confused with other 'gan' words in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

感觉错误犯罪心情坏人

Learn Next

内疚惭愧道德伦理救赎

Advanced

佛家业力 (Karma) 存在主义 (Existentialism) 心理补偿 (Psychological compensation) 良知 (Conscience) 忏悔 (Confess/Repent)

Grammar to Know

Using '感' as a suffix for feelings.

幸福感 (Sense of happiness), 安全感 (Sense of security).

Abstract nouns as subjects of '让' (causative).

罪恶感让他变得沉默。

The '充满' (filled with) structure for emotions.

他眼中充满罪恶感。

Prepositional phrase '带着' (carrying) to describe state.

他带着罪恶感生活。

Verbs of alleviation like '减轻' and '消除'.

为了减轻罪恶感，他做了很多好事。

Examples by Level

我很有罪恶感。

I have a sense of guilt.

Subject + 很 + 有 + 罪恶感.

他没有罪恶感。

He doesn't have a sense of guilt.

Negative form: 没有 + 罪恶感.

你会有罪恶感吗？

Will you feel guilty?

Question form with 吗.

吃太多会有罪恶感。

Eating too much will cause guilt.

Action + 会有 + 罪恶感.

这种感觉是罪恶感。

This feeling is guilt.

Defining the feeling.

我不想有罪恶感。

I don't want to have guilt.

不想 + 有 + 罪恶感.

小猫有罪恶感吗？

Does the kitten feel guilty?

Asking about animals' feelings.

对不起，我有罪恶感。

Sorry, I feel guilty.

Using guilt to apologize.

因为迟到，我感到很有罪恶感。

Because I was late, I felt very guilty.

因为...感到...

如果你骗人，你会有罪恶感。

If you lie, you will feel guilty.

Conditional structure: 如果...就...

他做错事后没有罪恶感。

He had no guilt after doing something wrong.

Time phrase + 没有 + 罪恶感.

我不喜欢这种罪恶感。

I don't like this sense of guilt.

Demonstrative: 这种 + 罪恶感.

妈妈说浪费食物会有罪恶感。

Mom says wasting food causes guilt.

Indirect speech.

他带着罪恶感离开了家。

He left home carrying a sense of guilt.

带着 + 罪恶感 + Action.

这让我产生了一点罪恶感。

This made me feel a bit of guilt.

让 + Person + 产生 + 罪恶感.

你为什么没有罪恶感？

Why don't you feel guilty?

Why question: 为什么.

他一直深受罪恶感的折磨。

He has been suffering from a sense of guilt.

深受...的折磨 (suffering from...)

为了减轻罪恶感，他把钱还了回去。

To alleviate his guilt, he returned the money.

为了 + Verb + 罪恶感 (Purpose clause).

这种强烈的罪恶感让他无法入睡。

This strong sense of guilt made him unable to sleep.

Adjective + 罪恶感 + 让 + Person + Result.

我们不应该让罪恶感控制我们的生活。

We shouldn't let guilt control our lives.

让 + 罪恶感 + Verb (Passive/Causative).

他试图通过做慈善来消除罪恶感。

He tried to eliminate his guilt by doing charity.

通过...来... (By means of...)

每当想起那件事，他就会产生罪恶感。

Whenever he thinks of that, he feels guilty.

每当...就... (Whenever... then...)

这种罪恶感是无法用言语表达的。

This sense of guilt is beyond words.

无法用...表达 (Cannot express using...)

他的一生都活在罪恶感之中。

He lived his whole life in a state of guilt.

活在...之中 (Living within...)

现代人常常因为无法平衡工作和生活而产生罪恶感。

Modern people often feel guilty for being unable to balance work and life.

Because of [Complex Phrase] + 产生罪恶感.

他深知自己的行为会给家人带来罪恶感。

He knew well that his actions would bring guilt to his family.

深知 (Know deeply) + Clause.

这种罪恶感源于他对自己极高的道德要求。

This sense of guilt stems from his extremely high moral standards.

源于 (Stems from/Originates in).

这种“零罪恶感”的甜点在年轻人中非常受欢迎。

This 'zero-guilt' dessert is very popular among young people.

Using 罪恶感 as part of a lifestyle term.

他决定坦白一切，以摆脱长久以来的罪恶感。

He decided to confess everything to get rid of his long-standing guilt.

以... (In order to) + 摆脱 (Break free from).

社会压力有时会强制性地赋予个人某种罪恶感。

Social pressure sometimes forcefully imposes a certain sense of guilt on individuals.

赋予...罪恶感 (Bestow/Impose guilt).

她并没有因为拒绝他的请求而感到任何罪恶感。

She didn't feel any guilt for rejecting his request.

并不 + 因为...而... (Not... because of...)

罪恶感往往是良知尚未泯灭的体现。

A sense of guilt is often a manifestation of a conscience that hasn't yet perished.

Manifestation: ...的体现.

在罪恶感的驱使下，他开始了漫长的赎罪之旅。

Driven by guilt, he embarked on a long journey of atonement.

在...的驱使下 (Driven by...)

这种深层的罪恶感已经内化为他性格的一部分。

This deep-seated sense of guilt has internalized as part of his character.

内化为 (Internalized as).

文学作品中常以罪恶感作为探讨人性阴暗面的切入点。

Literary works often use guilt as an entry point to explore the dark side of human nature.

以...作为... (Using... as...)

幸存者罪恶感是许多心理创伤后应激障碍患者的共同特征。

Survivor guilt is a common feature among many PTSD patients.

Psychological terminology: 幸存者罪恶感.

他试图通过逻辑辩论来消解内心的罪恶感，但徒劳无功。

He tried to dissolve his inner guilt through logical debate, but in vain.

消解 (Dissolve/Deconstruct) + 徒劳无功 (In vain).

这种罪恶感并非来自法律的惩罚，而是来自自我的审判。

This sense of guilt comes not from legal punishment, but from self-judgment.

并非...而是... (Not... but...)

宗教信仰在缓解信徒的罪恶感方面起着至关重要的作用。

Religious beliefs play a crucial role in alleviating the guilt of believers.

在...方面起着...作用 (Plays a role in...)

他那毫无罪恶感的谎言让所有人都感到心寒。

His lies, told without a hint of guilt, made everyone feel a chill in their hearts.

毫无 (Without any) + 罪恶感.

罪恶感在某种程度上是社会契约得以维持的心理基石。

To some extent, guilt is the psychological cornerstone upon which the social contract is maintained.

Abstract academic statement.

他深陷于存在主义式的罪恶感中，对生命的意义产生了怀疑。

He was deeply mired in existential guilt, doubting the meaning of life.

存在主义式的 (Existentialist).

这种跨代传递的罪恶感反映了历史悲剧对后代的深远影响。

This transgenerational guilt reflects the profound impact of historical tragedies on future generations.

跨代传递 (Transgenerational transmission).

法律虽然可以裁定罪行，却无法根除罪犯内心的罪恶感。

Although law can adjudicate crimes, it cannot eradicate the guilt in a criminal's heart.

Concession structure: 虽然...却...

在消费主义盛行的今天，罪恶感已然成为营销手段中被操纵的情绪。

In today's consumerist era, guilt has already become an emotion manipulated in marketing tactics.

已然 (Already/Now) + 被操纵 (Manipulated).

他对于权力的渴望与随之而来的罪恶感构成了他性格的悖论。

His desire for power and the accompanying guilt constituted the paradox of his character.

构成了...的悖论 (Constituted the paradox of...)

这种罪恶感如影随形，渗透进他生活中的每一个微小细节。

This sense of guilt follows him like a shadow, permeating every tiny detail of his life.

如影随形 (Like a shadow) + 渗透 (Permeate).

对平庸的罪恶感促使他不断追求卓越，甚至到了偏执的地步。

A sense of guilt regarding mediocrity drove him to pursue excellence constantly, even to the point of paranoia.

甚至到了...的地步 (Even to the point of...)

Common Collocations

强烈的罪恶感

产生罪恶感

减轻罪恶感

消除罪恶感

深受罪恶感折磨

零罪恶感

带着罪恶感

充满罪恶感

这种罪恶感

幸存者罪恶感

Common Phrases

很有罪恶感

— To feel very guilty. Used in daily life for minor or major things.

吃完这顿大餐，我觉得很有罪恶感。

完全没有罪恶感

— To have no guilt at all. Often used to describe a cold person or a 'guilt-free' product.

他做这种坏事竟然完全没有罪恶感。

一点罪恶感都没有

— Not even a bit of guilt. Similar to the above but more emphatic.

他骗了大家，却一点罪恶感都没有。

产生巨大的罪恶感

— To develop a massive sense of guilt.

这次失败让他产生了巨大的罪恶感。

陷入罪恶感中

— To fall into or be trapped in a state of guilt.

她整天陷入罪恶感中，无法自拔。

因为...而有罪恶感

— To have guilt because of something.

我因为没去参加婚礼而有罪恶感。

摆脱不了罪恶感

— Cannot get rid of the sense of guilt.

他始终摆脱不了那份沉重的罪恶感。

罪恶感的源头

— The source of the sense of guilt.

我们需要找到他罪恶感的源头。

克服罪恶感

— To overcome the feeling of guilt.

他正在努力克服内心的罪恶感。

这种罪恶感很正常

— This sense of guilt is normal. Used in counseling or support.

医生告诉他，这种罪恶感很正常。

Often Confused With

罪恶感 vs 内疚

内疚 is softer and more interpersonal; 罪恶感 is heavier and more moral/ethical.

罪恶感 vs 惭愧

惭愧 is about feeling inferior or failing expectations; 罪恶感 is about doing wrong.

罪恶感 vs 羞耻

羞耻 is about how others see you (external); 罪恶感 is about your own conscience (internal).

Idioms & Expressions

"负荆请罪"

— To bring a birch and ask for punishment; to offer a humble apology.

为了表示诚意，他决定负荆请罪。

Literary/Formal

"问心无愧"

— To have a clear conscience; to feel no guilt upon self-examination.

只要我们尽力了，就可以问心无愧。

Common

"愧不敢当"

— To feel ashamed that one doesn't deserve the honor or praise given.

您的夸奖我真是愧不敢当。

Polite/Formal

"悔恨交加"

— To be filled with both regret and hatred (usually toward oneself).

想起往事，他禁不住悔恨交加。

Literary

"痛定思痛"

— To recall a past pain and learn from it; often involves reflecting on guilt.

我们应该痛定思痛，不再犯同样的错误。

Formal

"改过自新"

— To turn over a new leaf; to correct one's errors and start afresh.

他决定改过自新，重新做人。

Common

"无地自容"

— To feel so ashamed that one wishes to sink into the ground.

他的话让我感到无地自容。

Common

"自惭形秽"

— To feel unworthy or inferior when compared to others.

在他面前，我不由得自惭形秽。

Literary

"引咎辞职"

— To take the blame and resign from a position.

这位部长因为丑闻而引咎辞职。

Formal/News

"弥补过错"

— To make up for one's mistakes; to atone.

他努力工作以弥补过去的过错。

Neutral

Easily Confused

罪恶感 vs 罪名

Both start with 罪.

罪名 is the legal name of a crime (e.g., theft); 罪恶感 is the feeling of guilt.

他的罪名是偷窃，但他毫无罪恶感。

罪恶感 vs 恶感

Contains 恶 and 感.

恶感 means ill will or a bad impression of *someone else*; 罪恶感 is guilt about *oneself*.

我对那个人有恶感。

罪恶感 vs 犯罪

Related to 罪.

犯罪 is a verb (to commit a crime); 罪恶感 is the resulting feeling.

犯罪之后，他产生了罪恶感。

罪恶感 vs 感应

Contains 感.

感应 is a response or induction (physics/spiritual); 罪恶感 is emotional guilt.

心灵感应。

罪恶感 vs 罪过

Similar meaning.

罪过 is often used as an exclamation ('My fault!' or 'What a sin!') or a noun for the mistake itself.

真是罪过，浪费这么多好东西。

Sentence Patterns

我有[一点/很强]罪恶感。

我有一点罪恶感。

因为[Reason]，我感到很有罪恶感。

因为没去上课，我感到很有罪恶感。

[Action]让我产生罪恶感。

说谎让我产生罪恶感。

为了[Purpose]，他试图消除罪恶感。

为了让自己好受，他试图消除罪恶感。

他[Verb]着沉重的罪恶感。

他背负着沉重的罪恶感。

在罪恶感的[Noun]下，他[Result]。

在罪恶感的驱使下，他去自首了。

毫无罪恶感地[Action]。

他毫无罪恶感地伤害了别人。

[Abstract Concept]是产生罪恶感的根源。

过度的自我要求是产生罪恶感的根源。

Word Family

Nouns

罪 (Crime/Sin)

恶 (Evil)

感 (Feeling/Sense)

罪人 (Sinner/Criminal)

恶行 (Evil deed)

Verbs

犯罪 (To commit a crime)

感到 (To feel)

感化 (To influence someone to change for the better)

Adjectives

罪恶的 (Evil/Sinful)

邪恶的 (Wicked)

感人的 (Touching/Moving)

内疚

惭愧

羞耻

惩罚

良心

How to Use It

frequency

Common in psychological, legal, and lifestyle contexts.

Common Mistakes

我很罪恶感。 → 我很有罪恶感。
罪恶感 is a noun, not an adjective. You need the verb '有' (have).
我对他感到罪恶感。 → 我对他的行为感到内疚。
罪恶感 is usually an internal moral feeling. When directed at a person for a specific slight, '内疚' is more natural.
他犯了罪恶感。 → 他犯了罪。
You 'commit' a crime (犯罪), but you 'feel' guilt (感到罪恶感).
这让我羞耻感。 → 这让我感到罪恶感。
Shame (羞耻感) is about your identity/face; Guilt (罪恶感) is about your action. Use carefully.
消除我的罪名。 → 消除我的罪恶感。
罪名 is a legal charge. Unless you are in court, you probably mean the 'feeling' (罪恶感).

Tips

Verb Pairing

Always pair 罪恶感 with '感到' or '有'. Don't use it as an adjective like 'I am guilt'.

Shame vs. Guilt

Remember that Chinese culture often focuses on shame (how others see you). Using 罪恶感 emphasizes your own internal heart.

Lifestyle Usage

Look for '零罪恶感' on food packaging in China; it's a very common modern phrase.

Character Stroke Order

Pay close attention to the bottom part of '恶' (心). It represents the feeling coming from the heart.

Tones Matter

Saying 'zui' with the wrong tone might change the meaning. Keep it sharp and falling (4th tone).

Survivor Guilt

If you are translating psychological texts, use the full term '幸存者罪恶感'.

Intensity

Use 罪恶感 for heavy things. For light things, use 内疚 or 抱歉.

Adjective Modifiers

Use '强烈的' (strong) or '深重的' (deep/heavy) to describe the guilt.

Suffix '感'

Recognize that '感' often turns abstract concepts into feelings (e.g., 幽默感, 责任感).

Visual Aid

Picture a net (罒) over a heart (心) to remember the characters in 罪恶感.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Zui (罪) sounds like 'Sway'. When you feel guilt, your moral compass sways. E (恶) is like 'Uh-oh'. Gan (感) is your 'Gut' feeling. Sway + Uh-oh + Gut = Guilt.

Visual Association

Imagine a person carrying a giant heavy stone (罪) that is dark and jagged (恶) inside their heart (感).

Word Web

罪 (Sin) 恶 (Evil) 感 (Feeling) 内疚 (Remorse) 良心 (Conscience) 道歉 (Apologize) 压力 (Pressure) 法律 (Law)

Challenge

Try to use '罪恶感' in a sentence about eating something delicious but unhealthy today.

Word Origin

The term is a modern compound. '罪' originally depicted a net (网) used to catch wrongdoers. '恶' consists of 'heart' (心) under a character representing a hump or deformity, signifying something 'bad' in the heart. '感' is 'heart' responding to an external 'all/whole' (咸) stimulus.

Original meaning: The sense of being caught in a net of one's own evil heart.

Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin Chinese).

Cultural Context

Avoid using this word to judge others' religious beliefs unless you are in a deep, respectful discussion.

English speakers often use 'guilt' for both minor and major things. In Chinese, be careful not to use 罪恶感 too casually unless you are joking.

The classic novel 'Dream of the Red Chamber' explores deep moral guilt. Lu Xun's stories often depict the collective guilt of society. Contemporary films like 'To Live' show characters dealing with historical guilt.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Dieting and Health

零罪恶感零食
吃完很有罪恶感
减肥时的罪恶感
消除食物罪恶感

Interpersonal Relationships

对家人的罪恶感
因为撒谎而有罪恶感
减轻内心的罪恶感
带给别人罪恶感

Work and Productivity

拖延症带来的罪恶感
没完成任务的罪恶感
工作狂的罪恶感
职业罪恶感

Legal and Moral

强烈的罪恶感
毫无罪恶感
道德上的罪恶感
法律与罪恶感

Psychology

幸存者罪恶感
深层的罪恶感
罪恶感的心理分析
摆脱长期的罪恶感

Conversation Starters

"你最近一次感到罪恶感是什么时候？ (When was the last time you felt guilty?)"

"你觉得吃巧克力会有罪恶感吗？ (Do you think eating chocolate causes guilt?)"

"你怎么处理内心的罪恶感？ (How do you deal with inner guilt?)"

"你认为罪恶感对社会有好处吗？ (Do you think guilt is good for society?)"

"为什么有些人做坏事却没有罪恶感？ (Why do some people do bad things without guilt?)"

Journal Prompts

写一次你感到深深罪恶感的经历，以及你是如何克服它的。 (Write about an experience where you felt deep guilt and how you overcame it.)

探讨现代社会中‘零罪恶感’消费的流行。 (Explore the popularity of 'zero-guilt' consumption in modern society.)

罪恶感和羞耻感有什么区别？请结合你的生活谈谈。 (What is the difference between guilt and shame? Discuss with examples from your life.)

如果世界上没有罪恶感，人类社会会变成什么样？ (If there were no guilt in the world, what would human society become?)

分析一个文学人物身上的罪恶感。 (Analyze the guilt of a literary character.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Generally, yes, it describes a painful emotion. However, in psychology, it's seen as a necessary part of a healthy conscience. In marketing, 'zero guilt' (零罪恶感) is used positively to describe healthy products.

You can, but it might sound a bit dramatic. '不好意思' or '惭愧' is usually better for small social errors. Use 罪恶感 if the lateness caused a serious problem.

It is '幸存者罪恶感' (xìng cún zhě zuì è gǎn). It is a technical term used in psychology for people who survived a disaster when others didn't.

You can say '我好有罪恶感啊' or simply '感觉很罪恶' when jokingly talking about indulgent behavior like eating sweets.

They are nearly identical. 负罪感 (fù zuì gǎn) emphasizes the 'burden' (负) of the guilt and is slightly more formal or written.

No, it is strictly a noun. You must use it with verbs like '感到' (feel) or '有' (have).

The most common opposite is '问心无愧' (wèn xīn wú kuì), an idiom meaning one's conscience is clear.

It has '罒' on top and '非' on the bottom. Remember the 'net' (罒) catching the 'wrong' (非).

Not necessarily. It can refer to moral failings, religious sins, or even just social mistakes. It's about how you feel, not necessarily your legal status.

Yes, it usually appears around HSK 5 or 6 (New HSK B2/C1 levels) because it involves complex emotional expression.