悲
grieve, sad, deplore, regret
Readings
On'yomi
- ヒ
Kun'yomi
- かな.しい
- かな.しむ
Meaning
悲 centers on emotional pain from loss or disappointment: grieving, feeling sad, deploring a situation, or regretting something that cannot be changed.
Most common words using 悲
20 of 73- 悲しいかなしいN4
sad; miserable; unhappy; sorrowful
- 悲しみかなしみN3
sadness; sorrow; grief
- 悲劇ひげきN3
tragedy; tragic drama; tragic play
- 悲惨ひさんN1
disastrous; tragic; miserable; wretched; pitiful; woeful; outrageous
- 悲鳴ひめいN1
shriek; scream
- 悲報ひほう
sad news
- 慈悲じひN1
mercy; compassion; clemency; pity; charity; benevolence
- 悲観ひかんN1
pessimism; (taking a) gloomy view; discouragement; despondency; despair; disappointment
- 悲しむかなしむN3
to be sad; to mourn for; to regret
- 無慈悲むじひ
merciless; ruthless; pitiless; unfeeling
- 悲願ひがん
one's dearest wish
- 悲痛ひつう
grief; sorrow; extreme sadness; heartbreak
- 悲哀ひあい
sorrow; grief; sadness
- 悲嘆ひたん
grief; sorrow; anguish; lamentation
- 悲壮ひそう
tragic but brave; heroic; grim
- 悲恋ひれん
blighted love; disappointed love
- 悲運ひうん
sad fate; tragic doom; ill fate
- 物悲しいものがなしい
sad; sorrowful; melancholy; plaintive
- 悲ひ
karuna (compassion)
- 悲愴ひそう
pathetic; sad; sorrowful; grievous
Study
Etymology
悲 combines 非 (a pictograph of opposing wings, often used for 'not' or 'wrong') with 心 (heart), suggesting a heart that is opposed or not at ease, leading to sadness and grief.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part 非 looks like two wings pulling apart, and the bottom 心 is the heart. Picture a heart being torn in two directions, causing deep sadness and grief.
Reading mnemonic
For ヒ, imagine a sad person sighing 'hee...' as they grieve: the sigh 'hee' cues ヒ, and the heavy heart 心 under the torn wings 非 shows the sadness.