Bereuen

Bereuen is a German verb that means “to regret” in English. It’s an emotion that expresses sadness or disappointment about past decisions or actions, often accompanied by a feeling of guilt or remorse.

Opposites:

• freuen (to be happy): This verb expresses the opposite emotion of regret. Instead of feeling guilty or sad about something that happened in the past, you feel happy or satisfied with it.

• erfreuen (to delight): This verb suggests a heightened sense of joy or enjoyment. It implies that you’re not just happy or content, but actively delighted by something.

Synonyms:

• bedauern (to lament): This verb is similar to bereuen in that it expresses a sense of sadness or regret. However, bedauern may be used more broadly to express disappointment or pity for other people, not just yourself.

• reuen (to rue): This verb is almost a perfect synonym for bereuen, but may imply a slightly stronger sense of remorse or wistfulness.

Examples:

• Ich bereue es, dass ich gestern so spät ins Bett gegangen bin. (I regret staying up so late last night.)
• Sie wird es sicher bereuen, wenn sie das nicht tut. (She’ll certainly regret it if she doesn’t do that.)
• Ich würde es bereuen, wenn ich meine Freunde nicht besuchen würde. (I’d regret it if I didn’t visit my friends.)

In conclusion, Bereuen is a powerful German verb that expresses regret for past decisions or actions. Its nuanced variations in meaning and opposites show how language reflects the complexity of human emotions.\ Visit YouGlish.com