condolences; sympathy
Polite noun used to express sympathy for someone's loss, especially in the context of a death. Commonly used in phrases like お悔やみを申し上げる.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family.
I have no words to express my sympathy.
お悔やみ is used specifically to offer condolences for a death, while お気の毒に can be said about any misfortune, not just bereavement.
お悔やみ is the everyday, spoken expression of condolence, while 弔意 is a more literary, written term used in official statements.
お悔やみ is a general expression of condolence usable in speech or writing, whereas 弔電 refers only to the formal telegram medium.
Standard polite spelling with honorific お and kanji 悔やみ.
Variant spelling without the okurigana や; less common but acceptable.
Polite prefix お + 悔やみ (noun form of verb 悔やむ 'to mourn, regret'). The kanji 悔 carries the meaning of regret or mourning.