残ざん念ねん

ざ

ん

ね

ん

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 1,000

Meanings

Expresses regret, disappointment, or a feeling that something is a pity. Often used in the phrase 残念ながら (unfortunately).

試し合あいに負まけて残ざん念ねんです。
I'm disappointed that we lost the game.
残ざん念ねんながら、明日あしたのイベントは中ちゅう止しになりました。
Unfortunately, tomorrow's event has been canceled.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉で残ざん念ねんだto be disappointed because of ~
試し合あいに負まけて残ざん念ねんだ。
I'm disappointed that we lost the match.
残ざん念ねんな〈事こと〉a disappointing ~ (news, result, etc.)
残ざん念ねんな結けっ果かになった。
It turned out to be a disappointing result.
とても残ざん念ねんだto be very disappointed or regretful
旅りょ行こうが中ちゅう止しになって、とても残ざん念ねんだ。
I'm very disappointed that the trip was cancelled.
〈人ひと〉は残ざん念ねんそうだsomeone looks disappointed
彼かれは残ざん念ねんそうな顔かおをしていた。
He had a disappointed look on his face.

Expressions

残ざん念ねんながらunfortunately; regrettably
残ざん念ねんなことunfortunate thing; pity; shame
残ざん念ねんに思おもうregret; be sorry; feel bad about
残ざん念ねんなことにunfortunately; regrettably

Kanji

残remainder, leftover, balance
念wish, sense, idea

Related words· 9

無む念ねんN1
無念 is a stronger, more formal word for deep regret or chagrin, while 残念 is the everyday word for disappointment.
悔くやしいN3
悔しい expresses personal frustration or vexation at one's own failure, while 残念 is a more neutral expression of regret about a situation.
惜おしいN3
惜しい often describes a narrowly missed opportunity or something almost achieved, while 残念 covers disappointment more broadly.
遺い憾かんN1
遺憾 is a stiff, formal word used in official statements of regret, whereas 残念 is the common word used in daily conversation.

Show 5 more

嘆なげかわしい
残念 is the common, everyday word for something unfortunate or regrettable, while 嘆かわしい is stronger, more formal, and carries a moral judgment.
気きの毒どくN3
残念 describes disappointment about an outcome in general, while 気の毒 specifically conveys pity for another person's misfortune.
お気きの毒どくにN2
残念 expresses one's own regret or disappointment about a situation, while お気の毒に specifically conveys sympathy for someone else's misfortune.
痛つう恨こん
残念 is a mild, everyday expression of disappointment, whereas 痛恨 conveys a much deeper and more painful sense of regret.
後こう悔かいN2
残念 is a milder disappointment often about an outcome beyond your control, while 後悔 implies self-blame for your own decision.

Opposites

喜よろこばしいN1
残念 describes an external situation as regrettable or disappointing, the opposite of 喜ばしい, which describes a situation as joyful or welcome.

Don't confuse with

残ざん酷こくN1
残酷 shares the kanji 残 with 残念 but means 'cruel', not 'regrettable', so learners should not confuse the two.
無む残ざんN1
残念 shares the kanji 残 with 無残 but means simply 'regrettable' or 'a pity', not 'cruel' or 'pitifully ruined'.

Word family

残ざん念ねん会かい
consolation party
残ざん念ねん賞しょう
consolation prize
大たい変へん残ざん念ねん
deep regret; great disappointment
残ざん念ねんがる
show regret; seem disappointed; appear bitter
残ざん念ねん無む念ねん
deep regret; bitter disappointment
残ざん念ねん至し極ごく
deep regret; bitter disappointment

Written forms

残ざん念ねんUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency word.
ざんねんUsage1%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing, especially when emphasizing the feeling.
ザンネンUsage<1%

Etymology

From 残 (remaining, lingering) and 念 (thought, feeling). The combination conveys a lingering feeling of regret or disappointment.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉で残ざん念ねんだto be disappointed because of ~

試し合あいに負まけて残ざん念ねんだ。

I'm disappointed that we lost the match.

残ざん念ねんな〈事こと〉a disappointing ~ (news, result, etc.)

残ざん念ねんな結けっ果かになった。

It turned out to be a disappointing result.

とても残ざん念ねんだto be very disappointed or regretful

旅りょ行こうが中ちゅう止しになって、とても残ざん念ねんだ。

I'm very disappointed that the trip was cancelled.

〈人ひと〉は残ざん念ねんそうだsomeone looks disappointed

彼かれは残ざん念ねんそうな顔かおをしていた。

He had a disappointed look on his face.

Related words· 9

無む念ねんN1

無念 is a stronger, more formal word for deep regret or chagrin, while 残念 is the everyday word for disappointment.

悔くやしいN3

悔しい expresses personal frustration or vexation at one's own failure, while 残念 is a more neutral expression of regret about a situation.

惜おしいN3

惜しい often describes a narrowly missed opportunity or something almost achieved, while 残念 covers disappointment more broadly.

遺い憾かんN1

遺憾 is a stiff, formal word used in official statements of regret, whereas 残念 is the common word used in daily conversation.

Show 5 more

嘆なげかわしい
残念 is the common, everyday word for something unfortunate or regrettable, while 嘆かわしい is stronger, more formal, and carries a moral judgment.
気きの毒どくN3
残念 describes disappointment about an outcome in general, while 気の毒 specifically conveys pity for another person's misfortune.
お気きの毒どくにN2
残念 expresses one's own regret or disappointment about a situation, while お気の毒に specifically conveys sympathy for someone else's misfortune.
痛つう恨こん
残念 is a mild, everyday expression of disappointment, whereas 痛恨 conveys a much deeper and more painful sense of regret.
後こう悔かいN2
残念 is a milder disappointment often about an outcome beyond your control, while 後悔 implies self-blame for your own decision.