気(き)の毒(どく)

きのどく
na-adjective
pitiful, unfortunate, regrettable
emotion
1. pitiful, unfortunate
Deserving of sympathy; in an unfortunate situation.
気(き)の毒(どく)な話(はなし)だ。
It's a pitiful story.
お気(き)の毒(どく)に。
I'm sorry to hear that. / My condolences.
Expression of sympathy
病気(びょうき)で旅行(りょこう)に行(い)けなくなって、気(き)の毒(どく)に思(おも)う。
I feel sorry that they can't go on the trip because of illness.
長(なが)い間(あいだ)入院(にゅういん)している友人(ゆうじん)のことを気(き)の毒(どく)に思(おも)い、お見舞(みま)いに行(い)った。
Feeling sorry for my friend who had been in the hospital for a long time, I went to visit.
2. sorry, regrettable
Expressing regret for inconveniencing someone.
彼(かれ)を待(ま)たせて気(き)の毒(どく)だった。
I felt bad for making him wait.
忙(いそが)しい時(とき)にお願(ねが)いして、気(き)の毒(どく)だと思(おも)っています。
I feel bad for asking when you're busy.

気(き)の毒(どく) expresses sympathy for someone's misfortune or regret for causing inconvenience.

Forms

  • 気(き)の毒(どく)な + noun (pitiful ~)
  • 〜が気(き)の毒(どく)だ (feel sorry for ~)
  • お気(き)の毒(どく)に (expression: I'm sorry, my condolences)

Usage

  • Sense 1: Expressing sympathy for someone's situation
  • Sense 2: Feeling bad for troubling someone
  • More formal/polite than かわいそう

Common expressions

Similar words

Related Words

Synonym: かわいそう (pitiful (casual))
Compare: 申(もう)し訳(わけ)ない (sorry for the inconvenience)
Related: 痛々(いたいた)しい (pitiful)
Compare: 不憫(ふびん) (pitiful)
Compare: 哀(あわ)れな (pitiful)
general
Added 2026.1.11 19:56 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
02500/02581_kinodoku