慍

Internalized, simmering, or brooding indignation; a state of being offended, slighted, or resentful, ranging from mild pique to deep-seated indignation.

Commonly used as a stative verb or adjective ("to be resentful" or "indignant"). It can function as a transitive verb ("to feel resentment toward [someone]"), though it is less active in this role than 怨.

Within the "anger" cluster, 慍 is distinguished from:

• 怒 (nù): Outward or explosive rage.
• 憤 (fèn): Indignation typically tied to injustice or thwarted ambition; often carries a "righteous" connotation.
• 恨 (hèn): Deep-seated hatred or intense regret; generally more permanent and heavier than the pique of 慍.
• 怨 (yuàn): While frequently used interchangeably, 慍 emphasizes the internal emotional state/mood, whereas 怨 leans toward direction and expression (blaming, lodging a complaint, or longing/regret).

Semantic variant: 怨 (U+6120).

If both 慍 and 怨 appear in a single passage, the translator should look for a contrast between the internal feeling (慍) and the external attribution of blame (怨).