不恕 is an adjective meaning 'unforgiving' or 'implacable', describing a person or attitude that refuses to pardon wrongdoing, shows no mercy, and remains rigidly resentful. The character 不 means 'not' or 'un-', while 恕 means 'forgiveness', 'leniency', or 'empathy'—literally 'as if it were oneself', reflecting Confucian ethics of mutual understanding. Together, 不恕 negates that empathetic capacity, indicating moral inflexibility or deep-seated resentment.

This term carries a formal, literary tone and appears more often in classical texts, philosophical discussions, or serious modern writing (e.g., critiques of justice or character analysis). It is rarely used in casual speech; native speakers typically prefer simpler expressions like 不原谅 (bù yuánliàng) for 'won’t forgive'. 不恕 implies a principled or even righteous hardness—not mere anger, but an unyielding stance rooted in moral conviction or wounded dignity.