remorse
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remorse
The feeling of deep regret about a wrong action or misconduct, often connected with the wish to undo it.
Er zeigte tiefe Reue für sein Verhalten und entschuldigte sich aufrichtig.
He showed deep remorse for his behavior and apologized sincerely.
'Die Reue' (remorse) is the noun related to the rare verb 'reuen' (to make someone regret something). It is often used in the impersonal form 'etwas reut jemanden' (someone regrets something), for example: 'Sein Verhalten reut ihn sehr.' (He deeply regrets his behavior.)
Mich reut es, dass ich nicht ehrlicher war.
I regret that I wasn't more honest.
'Reue' (remorse) is often combined with verbs such as 'zeigen' (to show), 'empfinden' (to feel), or 'fühlen' (to feel). Typical adjectives are 'tief' (deep), 'aufrichtig' (sincere), or 'bitter' (bitter).
Vor Gericht zeigte der Angeklagte keinerlei Reue.
In court, the defendant showed no remorse at all.
To express what someone regrets, use the preposition 'über' followed by the accusative.
Sie empfand große Reue über ihre voreilige Entscheidung.
She felt great remorse over her hasty decision.
guilt / debt
'die Schuld' and 'die Reue' are often connected, but they are not the same thing. 'Schuld' describes that someone is responsible for a wrongful action or feels guilty. 'Reue' describes the strong regret afterward, meaning the feeling: I should not have done that. Learners may confuse the words because both occur after a mistake. You can be guilty without showing remorse. And you can feel remorse precisely because you recognize your guilt.
Der Kunde zeigte Reue, weil er die Verkäuferin unfair behandelt hatte.
The customer showed remorse because he had treated the saleswoman unfairly.
Nach dem Gespräch war klar, dass Herr Fischer keine Schuld an dem Schaden hatte.
After the conversation, it was clear that Mr. Fischer was not to blame for the damage.