hate

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 憎 has 14 strokes, the on-reading ぞう, and the kun-readings にくむ, にくい, and にくらしい. 憎む (にくむ) means to hate or detest.
• Basic usage: 憎む is used with the object of hatred; 憎しみ (にくしみ) names the hatred that can deepen or be overcome.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The object of hatred and changes in the feeling
  • 罪を憎む and 人を憎む mean hating a crime and hating a person, respectively; the example expresses a wish to distinguish these feelings.
  • 互いの憎しみを乗り越えるため means in order to overcome mutual hatred. 憎しみが深まるだけだ says that continuing revenge will only deepen the hatred.