Penitence is the feeling of being truly sorry after you have done something wrong, and wanting not to do it again. It is heavier than a quick "sorry". The word has an old, often church colour.

Penitence Penitence is the feeling of being truly sorry是真心對做錯的事感到抱歉的那種感覺 after you have done something wrong在做了錯事之後, and wanting not to do it again而且不想再犯. It它 is heavier than a quick "sorry"比隨口說一句「sorry」還要沉重. The word這個字 has an old, often church colour帶著古老、常常是教會的色彩.

Churches talk about penitence when someone turns away from a wrong. You can feel this without any church, but the word still sounds serious and a little old. In daily talk, people more often say they feel bad, or they talk about guilt or regret.

Churches教會 talk about penitence會談penitence, when someone turns away from a wrong當一個人從錯誤中回頭的時候. You你 can feel this without any church不用進教會也能有這種感覺, but the word still sounds serious and a little old不過這個字聽起來還是很嚴肅、有點老派. In daily talk在日常對話裡, people大家 more often say they feel bad比較常說覺得很糟, or they talk about guilt or regret或是講guilt(罪惡感)或regret(後悔).

Though actually, English has a close twin: penance. Penitence is the feeling inside. Penance is often the thing you do on the outside — extra prayers, making up for the harm, accepting a hard task. People mix these two.

Though actually不過事實上, English英語 has a close twin有一個很像的雙胞胎字: penance就是penance. Penitence Penitence is the feeling inside是內心的那種感受. Penance Penance is often the thing you do on the outside則常常是你在外在做的事 — extra prayers多做的禱告, making up for the harm彌補傷害, accepting a hard task接受一項艱難的任務. People大家 mix these two常把這兩個字搞混.

You will meet penitence in books, in church language, and in careful writing, not in a short message to a friend.

You你 will meet penitence會遇到penitence這個字 in books在書裡, in church language在教會用語裡, and in careful writing以及嚴謹的寫作裡, not in a short message to a friend而不是在傳給朋友的一則簡訊裡.