悲(かな)しみ

悲(かな)しみ is the noun form of the i-adjective 悲(かな)しい (sad), formed by replacing い with み. It refers to the feeling or state of sadness itself, ranging from mild unhappiness to deep grief.

Common patterns

• 悲(かな)しみに暮(く)れる: to be stricken with grief
• 悲(かな)しみを乗(の)り越(こ)える: to overcome sadness
• 悲(かな)しみに沈(しず)む: to sink into sorrow
• 深(ふか)い悲(かな)しみ: deep grief/sorrow

Word family

• 悲(かな)しい: sad (i-adjective)
• 悲(かな)しむ: to grieve, to feel sad (verb)
• 悲(かな)しげ: looking sad (na-adjective, literary)

Similar words

• 悲哀(ひあい): sorrow, pathos (more literary/formal)
• 哀(かな)しみ: same word, alternate kanji (less common)