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Kotomora

哀

pathetic, grief, sorrow, pathos, pity, sympathize

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • アイ

Kun'yomi

  • あわ.れ
  • あわ.れむ
  • かな.しい

Meaning

哀 centers on deep sadness and the compassion it evokes: grief, sorrow, and the pity or sympathy felt for someone in a pathetic state.

Most common words using 哀

20 of 57
  • 可哀想かわいそう
    N3

    poor; pitiable; pathetic; pitiful

  • 哀れあわれ
    N3

    pity; sorrow; grief; misery; compassion; pathos

  • 哀愁あいしゅう

    pathos; sorrow; grief

  • 哀悼あいとう

    condolence; regret; tribute; sorrow; sympathy; lament

  • 悲哀ひあい

    sorrow; grief; sadness

  • 哀れむあわれむ
    N1

    to pity; to feel sympathy for; to sympathize with; to sympathise with; to commiserate with; to have mercy on

  • 喜怒哀楽きどあいらく
    N1

    human emotions (joy, anger, grief and pleasure); feelings

  • 哀あい

    pity; sorrow; grief; misery

  • 哀れみあわれみ

    pity; compassion

  • 哀歌あいか

    lament (song); elegy; dirge; sad song

  • 哀願あいがん

    supplication; appeal; entreaty; petition

  • 哀歓あいかん

    joys and sorrows; happiness and sadness

  • 哀感あいかん

    pathos; melancholy; sorrow

  • 哀切あいせつ

    pathetic; plaintive

  • ザ・ソプラノズ哀愁のマフィアザソプラノズひげきのマフィア

    The Sopranos (TV series)

  • 可哀想にかわいそうに

    poor thing!; pour soul!; what a pity!

  • 哀々あいあい

    deeply sad

  • 哀れがるあわれがる

    to feel sorry for; to pity

  • 哀れっぽいあわれっぽい

    plaintive; piteous; doleful

  • 哀れ気あわれげ

    sad; sorrowful; pensive

Explore all words using 哀 →

Study

Etymology

哀 combines 衣 (clothing) with 口 (mouth), but the historical origin is uncertain. One traditional view sees it as a phono-semantic compound where 衣 suggests a connection to mourning garments and 口 indicates a sound element, though this is not firmly established.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a person wrapped in a mourning garment (衣), their mouth (口) open in a silent cry of grief. The image captures deep sorrow and the pity it inspires.

Reading mnemonic

For アイ, imagine the sound of a heartbroken sigh: 'Ai…' as you look at the grieving figure. The sigh 'Ai' directly cues アイ.