Japanese Conversation · Level 107
60 words
Japanese word
嘆く
Pronunciation
Romajinageku
Meaning
- verbgrieve
Example
彼は友人の死を嘆いています。kare wa yū jin no shi o nage i te i ma su
He is grieving over his friend's death.
More examples
過去の失敗を嘆くだけでは、前に進めません。ka ko no ship pai o nage ku da ke de wa mae ni susu me ma se n
Lamenting past failures alone will not help us move forward.
Core concept
Centers on giving outward form to deep sorrow caused by loss, hardship, or an unwanted situation.
Common phrases
死を嘆くshi o nage ku
grieve over a death
不幸を嘆くfu kō o nage ku
lament one's misfortune
運命を嘆くun mei o nage ku
lament one's fate
Similar words
悲しむkanashimu: To feel sadness about a loss or painful situation.
悔やむkuyamu: To feel sorrow and regret about a loss, mistake, or missed chance.
憂うureu: To feel deep sorrow or concern about an unwanted situation.
Definition in Japanese
死や不幸などを悲しみ、声や態度に出して表す。shi ya fu kō na do o kana shi mi koe ya tai do ni da shi te arawa su
Word origin
嘆く (nageku) is a native Japanese verb, and 嘆き (nageki) is its noun form made from the verb's continuative stem, referring to expressed sorrow.
Usage tips
- Japanese news reports and public statements often use 嘆く (nageku) for sorrow about a loss or setback, giving the word a more formal tone than many everyday expressions.