可哀想(かわいそう)

かわいそう
na-adjective
poor, pitiable, pathetic
1. poor, pitiable
Feeling sympathy for someone in an unfortunate situation.
可哀想(かわいそう)な犬(いぬ)
A poor dog.
あの子(こ)は可哀想(かわいそう)だ。
That child is pitiful.
彼(かれ)を叱(しか)るのは可哀想(かわいそう)だよ。
It's pitiable to scold him.
[Note: 〜のは可哀想だ = it's cruel/pitiable to ~]
病気(びょうき)の子猫(こねこ)を見(み)て、可哀想(かわいそう)で涙(なみだ)が出(で)た。
Seeing the sick kitten, I felt so sorry that tears came out.

可哀想(かわいそう) expresses sympathy or pity.

KANJI VARIATIONS:

  • 可哀想(かわいそう): standard spelling
  • 可哀相(かわいそう): alternate spelling
  • かわいそう: hiragana (common)

USAGE PATTERNS:

  • 可哀想(かわいそう)な + noun
  • 〜は可哀想(かわいそう)だ
  • 〜て可哀想(かわいそう) (I feel sorry that...)

NOTE: 可愛(かわい)い (cute) and 可哀想(かわいそう) (pitiable) are different words despite similar sounds.

general
Added 2026.1.11 17:13 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
02500/02779_kawaisou