Translation guide
Expressing regret or guilt for something one has done, often with a desire to make amends.
The speaker feels guilty and sorry about a past action, often wishing they could undo it.
The most common and direct way to say you feel remorse or regret. It implies you wish you hadn't done something.
あの時、もっと勉強しておけばよかったと後悔している。
I'm remorseful that I didn't study harder back then.
Similar to 後悔している but often carries a stronger emotional tone of lamenting or grieving over a mistake.
彼は自分の言ったことを深く悔やんでいる。
He deeply regrets what he said.
Expresses feeling sorry and remorseful, often with a nuance of owing an apology. More formal.
ご迷惑をおかけして、本当に申し訳なく思っています。
I am truly remorseful for causing you trouble.
Focuses on self-reflection and acknowledging one's fault, often used when someone has done something wrong and is trying to improve.
彼は自分の過ちを反省している。
He is remorseful about his mistake.
Literally 'my heart aches,' a more poetic or emotional way to express remorse or guilt.
彼女を傷つけてしまって、心が痛む。
I feel remorseful for hurting her; my heart aches.
The speaker wants to express remorse as part of an apology, often in formal or serious situations.
A very formal apology expressing deep remorse. Used in official statements or serious personal apologies.
この度の不祥事について、深くお詫び申し上げます。
I am deeply remorseful and apologize for this misconduct.
Literally 'I have no words of reflection,' meaning the speaker is so remorseful that words fail them. Very formal and humble.
ご期待に添えず、反省の言葉もございません。
I am so remorseful for not meeting your expectations that I have no words.
The speaker describes a third person who appears or is known to be remorseful.
To show signs of remorse. Often used when someone's expression or behavior indicates regret.
彼はようやく後悔の色を見せた。
He finally showed signs of being remorseful.
One can see a remorseful attitude. Often used in formal contexts like court or official reports.
被告には反省の態度が見られる。
The defendant appears remorseful.
後悔 (regret) focuses on the emotional pain of wishing you hadn't done something. 反省 (self-reflection) implies acknowledging fault and intending to improve. In many contexts, 反省 is closer to 'remorse' because it involves moral self-evaluation.
後悔はしているが、反省はしていない。
I regret it, but I'm not remorseful (I haven't reflected on my actions).
There is no single Japanese adjective that perfectly matches 'remorseful.' Using 悔恨 (かいこん) or 悔悟 (かいご) is possible but very literary and rare. Stick to the verb phrases above for natural expression.