Translation guide
Expresses the state of feeling deep sorrow or distress. In Japanese, this is often conveyed through verbs and adjectives describing emotional pain, sadness, or being troubled.
The speaker is personally experiencing grief, sorrow, or emotional pain.
The most direct verb for 'to grieve' or 'to feel sad'. It can be used for personal grief or sorrow over an event.
The speaker is bothered, distressed, or saddened by a situation, but not necessarily in deep mourning.
悲しむ is the general verb for feeling sad or grieving. 嘆く implies a more vocal or expressive lamentation, often used in literary contexts or when bewailing a situation. In everyday speech, 悲しむ is more common.
彼女は悲しんでいた。
She was grieving.
彼は世の中を嘆いた。
He lamented the state of the world.
He is grieving over his friend's death.
その知らせを聞いて深く悲しんだ。
I was deeply grieved to hear the news.
To lament or grieve, often with a sense of bewailing or expressing sorrow outwardly. Slightly more literary or intense than 悲しむ.
彼は運命を嘆いた。
He lamented his fate.
Literally 'to hurt one's heart', meaning to be distressed or grieved. Emphasizes emotional pain.
その事故のことを思うと心を痛める。
It grieves me to think about that accident.
To grieve or worry about something, often with a nuance of anxiety or concern. More formal and less common in daily speech.
国の将来を憂える。
To be grieved about the future of the country.
The adjective 'sad'. Used to describe a state of being sad or grieved. Often used in the form 悲しく思う (to feel sad).
その話を聞いて悲しくなった。
I felt grieved hearing that story.
To suffer or be tormented. Can be used for emotional suffering, implying grief mixed with anguish.
彼は罪悪感に苦しんでいる。
He is grieved with guilt.