情(なさ)けない

なさけない
i-adjective
miserable, pathetic, shameful
emotion
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present情(なさ)けない情(なさ)けなくない
Past情(なさ)けなかった情(なさ)けなくなかった
て form情(なさ)けなくて情(なさ)けなくなくて
Adverbial情(なさ)けなく—
Conditional ば情(なさ)けなければ情(なさ)けなくなければ
Conditional たら情(なさ)けなかったら情(なさ)けなくなかったら
1. miserable, pathetic, pitiful
Describes something or someone that evokes feelings of disappointment or embarrassment due to poor performance or condition.
自分(じぶん)が情(なさ)けない。
I feel pathetic/ashamed of myself.
Self-deprecating
情(なさ)けない結果(けっか)になってしまった。
It ended up being a miserable result.
こんな簡単(かんたん)な問題(もんだい)も解(と)けないなんて情(なさ)けない。
It's pathetic that I can't even solve such a simple problem.
情(なさ)けない姿(すがた)を見(み)せてしまった。
I showed my pitiful side.
情(なさ)けない言(い)い訳(わけ)だ。
That's a pathetic excuse.
情(なさ)けないことに遅刻(ちこく)した。
Pathetically, I was late.
情(なさ)けなくて涙(なみだ)が出(で)た。
I was so pathetic that I cried.
2. shameful, disgraceful
Causing feelings of shame or embarrassment for oneself.
自分(じぶん)が情(なさ)けない。
I feel pathetic/ashamed of myself.
Self-deprecating
こんな簡単(かんたん)な問題(もんだい)も解(と)けないなんて情(なさ)けない。
It's pathetic that I can't even solve such a simple problem.
負(ま)けて情(なさ)けない。
It's shameful that I lost.
泣(な)いている自分(じぶん)が情(なさ)けない。
I'm ashamed of myself for crying.
約束(やくそく)を破(やぶ)って情(なさ)けない。
It's shameful that I broke my promise.

Etymology: From 情(なさ)け (sympathy, compassion) + ない (without)

Originally meant 'without compassion/heartless,' but the modern meaning has shifted to 'pitiful, pathetic.'

Common patterns

Forms

Used to express disappointment in oneself or others, often with a tone of self-criticism.

Related Words

Synonym: 恥(は)ずかしい (embarrassing, shameful)
Synonym: 惨(みじ)め (miserable, wretched)
Related: 情(なさ)け (compassion (not the positive of this word))
Compare: みっともない (shameful)
Compare: 見苦(みぐる)しい (unsightly)
core
Added 2026.1.11 21:25 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31
03000/03129_nasakenai