1.
miserable, pathetic, pitiful
Describes something or someone that evokes feelings of disappointment or embarrassment due to poor performance or condition.
自分が情けない。
I feel pathetic/ashamed of myself.
Self-deprecating
情けない結果になってしまった。
It ended up being a miserable result.
こんな簡単な問題も解けないなんて情けない。
It's pathetic that I can't even solve such a simple problem.
情けない姿を見せてしまった。
I showed my pitiful side.
情けない言い訳だ。
That's a pathetic excuse.
情けないことに遅刻した。
Pathetically, I was late.
情けなくて涙が出た。
I was so pathetic that I cried.
2.
shameful, disgraceful
Causing feelings of shame or embarrassment for oneself.
自分が情けない。
I feel pathetic/ashamed of myself.
Self-deprecating
こんな簡単な問題も解けないなんて情けない。
It's pathetic that I can't even solve such a simple problem.
負けて情けない。
It's shameful that I lost.
泣いている自分が情けない。
I'm ashamed of myself for crying.
約束を破って情けない。
It's shameful that I broke my promise.
ETYMOLOGY: From 情け (sympathy, compassion) + ない (without)
Originally meant 'without compassion/heartless,' but the modern meaning has shifted to 'pitiful, pathetic.'
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 自分が情けない (I feel pathetic/ashamed)
- 情けない話 (a pathetic story)
- 〜なんて情けない (how pathetic that ~)
FORMS:
- 情けなく (adverb)
- 情けなくて (te-form)
- 情けなかった (past)
Used to express disappointment in oneself or others, often with a tone of self-criticism.