痛々(いたいた)しい

いたいたしい
adjective (i-adjective)
pitiful; painful to see; pathetic
1. pitiful; painful to see; pathetic
describes something so sad or embarrassing that it's hard to watch; evokes sympathy or secondhand discomfort
彼(かれ)の姿(すがた)が痛々(いたいた)しい。
He looks pitiful.
必死(ひっし)に言(い)い訳(わけ)する様子(ようす)が痛々(いたいた)しかった。
Watching them desperately make excuses was painful.
怪我(けが)だらけの体(からだ)が痛々(いたいた)しい。
It's painful to see their body covered in injuries.

USAGE:

  • 〜が痛々(いたいた)しい (~ is pitiful/painful to see)
  • 痛々(いたいた)しい姿(すがた) (a pitiful sight)
  • 見(み)ていて痛々(いたいた)しい (painful to watch)

NUANCE:
Can express:
1. Genuine sympathy - feeling sorry for someone's suffering
2. Secondhand embarrassment - cringing at someone's behavior

The word evokes a visceral reaction, as if the observer feels the pain themselves.

RELATED:

  • 気(き)の毒(どく) (pitiful, unfortunate)
  • 哀(あわ)れ (pathos, pity)
  • 見(み)るに堪(た)えない (unbearable to watch)
general
Added 2026.1.25 17:30
08000/08221_itaitashii