Translation guide
Describes a sad, mournful, or wistful sound, voice, or expression. In Japanese, this is often expressed through onomatopoeia, specific adjectives, or descriptive phrases that convey a sense of loneliness or sorrow.
plaintive voice
plaintive melody
To describe a voice, cry, or sound that is sad, mournful, and evokes pity.
An adjective meaning 'pitiful' or 'plaintive', often used for voices or expressions that seem sad and evoke sympathy.
Her plaintive voice lingered in my mind.
A na-adjective meaning 'sad-looking' or 'sorrowful', commonly used to describe a plaintive tone or expression.
A literary phrase meaning 'tinged with a plaintive tone', used in formal or written contexts.
To describe the plaintive cry of an animal or bird, often conveying loneliness.
To describe music or a musical instrument that sounds plaintive, often with a sense of longing.
Both can translate 'plaintive', but 哀れっぽい emphasizes pitifulness and a sense of helplessness, while 悲しげな simply describes a sad appearance or sound. 哀れっぽい can sometimes sound slightly more emotional or subjective.
I was stared at with plaintive eyes.
He had sad/plaintive eyes.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'plaintive'. Avoid trying to directly translate it as one word; instead, choose the expression that best fits the context (voice, music, animal cry, etc.).
He said goodbye in a plaintive voice.
An i-adjective meaning 'sad' or 'melancholy', often used for sounds or atmospheres that are plaintive and touching.
A plaintive melody was playing.
His speech had a plaintive tone.
The kitten was mewing in a plaintive voice.
Also used for music; see above.
It was a violin with a plaintive tone.