1.
sorrow; grief; pathos; sadness
A deep, often quiet sadness or grief. A literary word conveying profound emotional pain, frequently used in writing and formal expression.
A literary word composed of 悲 (sad, sorrowful) + 哀 (grief, pity). Both characters independently convey sadness; together they express profound, quiet grief. Common in literature, music criticism, and formal writing.
Common collocations
Similar words
- 悲しみ: sadness — the most common everyday word
- 哀愁: melancholy, pathos — similar literary register, but with a more wistful, nostalgic quality
- 嘆き: lamentation — active grieving, more vocal
- 哀れ: pathos, pity — a classical aesthetic concept in Japanese literature
Register
Primarily a written/literary word. In everyday conversation, 悲しみ or 悲しさ would be used instead.