Translation guide
Expresses doing something in a miserable, pitiful, or extremely poor manner. Often used to describe a state of deep unhappiness, failure, or inadequacy.
Describing an action or state that is full of misery, evoking pity or compassion.
The most direct and common adverb for 'wretchedly' in the sense of being miserable or pitiful. Used for both emotional states and situations.
彼は惨めに泣いていた。
He was crying wretchedly.
She failed wretchedly.
Emphasizes pitifulness, often with a nuance of compassion. Slightly more literary than 惨めに.
犬が哀れに鳴いていた。
The dog was whining wretchedly.
Means 'cruelly' or 'miserably', often implying a tragic or brutal outcome. Stronger and more dramatic.
彼は無残に殺された。
He was killed wretchedly.
Describing poor quality, severe failure, or extreme inadequacy in performance or condition.
Common adverb meaning 'terribly' or 'awfully'. Covers 'wretchedly' when referring to poor quality or severity.
彼は試験でひどく失敗した。
He failed the exam wretchedly.
天気がひどく悪かった。
The weather was wretchedly bad.
Adverb meaning 'severely' or 'terribly', often used for experiences or treatment. Implies a thorough, miserable experience.
Means 'shamefully' or 'in an unsightly manner'. Used when the wretchedness involves embarrassment or loss of dignity.
彼はみっともなく負けた。
He lost wretchedly.
Describing a person's emotional state of extreme unhappiness or despair.
Set phrase meaning 'in deep sorrow' or 'overwhelmed by grief'. Captures the emotional wretchedness.
彼女は悲しみに暮れて日々を過ごした。
She spent her days wretchedly, lost in sorrow.
Adverb meaning 'gloomily' or 'melancholically'. Describes a depressed, wretched mood.
彼は憂鬱にため息をついた。
He sighed wretchedly.
While 惨めに is the closest equivalent, it is not always natural for non-emotional 'wretchedly' (e.g., 'wretchedly poor performance'). Use ひどく or さんざん instead.
惨めに focuses on the subject's own misery, while 哀れに emphasizes the observer's pity. 哀れに is more literary and less common in daily speech.
さんざん待たされた。
I was kept waiting wretchedly.