contrite(形容词):指因做错事而深感懊悔、内疚,态度真诚地认错、悔改。(也可引申为语气/神情显得悔恨。)
/kənˈtraɪt/
He looked contrite after realizing he had hurt her feelings.
他意识到自己伤害了她的感情后,看起来很懊悔。
Though he publicly apologized, his contrite tone suggested he had reflected deeply on the consequences of his actions.
尽管他公开道歉,但他那真诚懊悔的语气表明他已深刻反思自己行为带来的后果。
来自拉丁语 contritus,原意有“磨碎的、压碎的”,引申到宗教与道德语境中,表示“心被痛悔所‘击碎’”,即真心悔改的状态。后来进入英语,固定为“深感悔恨、诚恳认错”的含义。