侘(わび)しい

わびしい
i-adjective
lonely; desolate; wistful; dreary
emotiondescriptive
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present侘(わび)しい侘(わび)しくない
Past侘(わび)しかった侘(わび)しくなかった
て form侘(わび)しくて侘(わび)しくなくて
Adverbial侘(わび)しく—
Conditional ば侘(わび)しければ侘(わび)しくなければ
Conditional たら侘(わび)しかったら侘(わび)しくなかったら
1. lonely; desolate; dreary
describes a melancholy atmosphere or feeling of isolation
侘(わび)しい一人暮(ひとりぐ)らし。
A lonely life living alone.
冬(ふゆ)の夕暮(ゆうぐ)れは侘(わび)しい。
Winter evenings are dreary.
古(ふる)い旅館(りょかん)に一人(ひとり)で泊(と)まると侘(わび)しい気持(きも)ちになる。
Staying alone at an old inn makes me feel forlorn.

Usage

Conveys a poetic, wistful loneliness rather than simple isolation. Often evokes imagery of autumn or winter, empty spaces, or solitary living.

Similar words

  • 寂(さび)しい: the everyday word for feeling lonely because someone or something is missing. 侘(わび)しい adds bleakness or meagerness in one's surroundings or circumstances: 侘(わび)しい食事(しょくじ) is a meager meal eaten alone, not merely a lonely one

Cultural note

Related to the aesthetic concept of 侘(わ)び (wabi) - finding beauty in simplicity and imperfection, though the adjective emphasizes the melancholy aspect more than the aesthetic appreciation.

Forms

  • Adverb: 侘(わび)しく
  • Noun form: 侘(わび)しさ (loneliness, dreariness)

Related Words

Compare: 寂(さび)しい (lonely (general))
Compare: 物寂(ものさび)しい (lonely)
general
Added 2026.1.25 16:59 · Revised 2026.9.23 21:23
08000/08183_wabishii