Verb

bedauern

Translation

to regret, to be sorry about, to pity

Ich bedauere meine Entscheidung.

I regret my decision.

Sie bedauerte den armen Mann.

She pitied the poor man.

Wir bedauern, das mitteilen zu müssen.

We regret having to announce that.

((et4)) bedauern to regret sth. I regret this mistake.

((j-n)) bedauern to pity sb. We pity the victims of the catastrophe.

Synonyms: bereuen, leidtun; Antonyms: sich freuen über

The prefix 'be-' makes the verb transitive, attached to 'dauern' (in an old sense of 'to cause sorrow'). It means to direct sorrow *at* something.

Think of the 'be-' prefix as directing the feeling of sorrow towards a specific object or person. You 'be-sorrow' something.