あえない

あ

え

な

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

disappointing; sad; tragic; fleeting

usually written using kana alone

Describes an outcome, end, or result that is anticlimactic, pitiful, or transient; often used in the phrase あえない最期 (miserable end) or あえない結果 (disappointing result).

彼かれの努ど力りょくもあえない結けっ果かに終おわった。
His efforts ended in a disappointing result.

英えい雄ゆうはあえない最さい期ごを遂とげた。

The hero met a tragic end.

Written forms

あえないUsage91%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms are rare and may be confusing.
敢あえ無ないUsage4%
Kanji form using 無い; very rare.
敢あえないUsage3%
Kanji form with standard okurigana; rarely used.
敢あえないUsage3%
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; extremely rare.

Kanji

敢daring, brave, bold
無nothingness, none, ain't

Similar words

儚はかない
儚い emphasizes ephemerality and fragility, while あえない focuses on the disappointing or pitiful nature of an outcome.
残ざん念ねん
残念 is a more common and general word for 'disappointing' or 'unfortunate', whereas あえない carries a stronger nuance of tragic or miserable finality.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 敢う (あう, 'to bear, endure') with the negative adjective ending ない, literally meaning 'unbearable' or 'cannot be endured', which evolved to describe pitiful or disappointing outcomes.