憫びん笑しょう

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

smiling with pity; compassionate smile

Formal or literary term for a smile that expresses pity or compassion. Often used in written descriptions rather than everyday speech.

• 彼かれは失しっ敗ぱいした友ゆう人じんに憫びん笑しょうを浮うかべた。

  He gave a pitying smile to his friend who had failed.

• その老ろう作さっ家かは若わか者ものの未み熟じゅくさを憫びん笑しょうした。

  The old writer smiled with pity at the youth's immaturity.