可哀(かわい)そう

かわいそう
na-adjective
poor, pitiful, pitiable
1. poor, pitiful, pitiable
Evoking sympathy or compassion for someone's unfortunate situation.
可哀(かわい)そうな犬(いぬ)
A poor dog.
彼女(かのじょ)は可哀(かわい)そうだ。
I feel sorry for her.
雨(あめ)の中(なか)で一人(ひとり)で待(ま)っている子供(こども)を見(み)て、可哀(かわい)そうに思(おも)った。
I felt sorry for the child waiting alone in the rain.

可哀(かわい)そう expresses pity or sympathy.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 可哀(かわい)そうな + noun (poor...)
  • 可哀(かわい)そうに思(おも)う (to feel sorry for)
  • 可哀(かわい)そうに! (Poor thing!)

SPELLING VARIATIONS:

  • 可哀(かわい)そう (with kanji)
  • かわいそう (hiragana - more common)
  • 可愛(かわい)そう (alternate kanji, less common)

DISTINCTION:

  • かわいそう (pitiable, feeling sorry)
  • かわいい (cute, adorable)

These are different words despite similar sound.

CULTURAL NOTE:
Japanese speakers often say かわいそう when seeing animals or children in unfortunate situations.

Related Words

Contrast: かわいい (cute)
general
Added 2026.1.11 16:05 · Revised 2026.2.26 15:32
02500/02690_kawaisou