情(なさ)け

なさけ
noun
compassion; pity; sympathy; love
emotion
1. compassion; pity; sympathy; kindness
A feeling of care and concern for someone who is suffering or in difficulty. The warmth of human feeling that leads one to help others.
情(なさ)けをかけてくれた人(ひと)を忘(わす)れない。
I won't forget the person who showed me kindness.
情(なさ)けは人(ひと)の為(ため)ならず。
Kindness is not (just) for others' sake. (proverb)
This proverb means that kindness eventually comes back to benefit you.
情(なさ)け深(ぶか)い人(ひと)だ。
He is a compassionate person.
旅先(たびさき)で出会(であ)った人(ひと)の情(なさ)けに助(たす)けられ、無事(ぶじ)に家(いえ)まで帰(かえ)ることができた。
Thanks to the kindness of someone I met while traveling, I was able to make it home safely.
2. love; affection (literary/classical)
Romantic love or deep affection, especially in classical or literary contexts.
花(はな)の色(いろ)は移(うつ)りにけりな情(なさ)けを知(し)る人(ひと)ぞ少(すく)なき。
The color of flowers fades—how few are those who understand such tender feeling.
Adapted from classical poetry; illustrates the literary/romantic sense of 情け.
男女(だんじょ)の情(なさ)けに溺(おぼ)れる。
To be consumed by romantic love.

Common expressions

WATCH OUT (情(なさ)けない):
情(なさ)けない looks like the negative of 情(なさ)け, but it means "pathetic" or "shameful" — something that makes you ashamed.

Usage

情(なさ)け is warm and human, suggesting genuine concern for someone in difficulty. Note that 情(なさ)けをかける can also carry a note of condescension — pity from a position of strength — so it is not a neutral way to describe helping a peer.

RELATED WORDS (compounds with 情(じょう)):

Related Words

Related: 情(なさ)け深(ぶか)い (compassionate)
Related: 情(なさ)けない (pathetic (not the negative of this word))
Related: 人情(にんじょう) (human kindness)
Compare: 恩情(おんじょう) (compassion)
Related: 愛情(あいじょう) (love, affection)
general
Added 2026.1.18 12:54 · Revised 2026.10.11 10:37
06500/06649_nasake