悲惨(ひさん)な

Describes situations marked by extreme misfortune and suffering. Often used for large-scale events like disasters, wars, and accidents, but also applies to personal circumstances.

Common collocations

• 悲惨(ひさん)な事故(じこ): tragic accident
• 悲惨(ひさん)な状況(じょうきょう): disastrous situation
• 悲惨(ひさん)な結末(けつまつ): tragic ending
• 悲惨(ひさん)な体験(たいけん): harrowing experience
• 悲惨(ひさん)さ: the misery, the tragedy (noun form with さ)

Similar words

• 残酷(ざんこく)な: cruel — emphasizes deliberate cruelty, while 悲惨(ひさん)な focuses on the resulting suffering regardless of intent
• 悲(かな)しい: sad — a basic emotional response, much milder and more personal than 悲惨(ひさん)な
• 惨(みじ)めな: wretched, miserable — focuses on the pitiable state of a person, often with a nuance of shame

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Common in news reporting and formal writing. The noun form 悲惨(ひさん) is also frequently used.