Japanese word

残念

Pronunciation

Romajizannen

Meaning

  • na-adjectivea shame, too bad

Example

今日は会えなくて残念です。kyō wa a e na ku te zan nen de su

It is a shame that I cannot see you today.

Illustration for 残念 (a shame)

More examples

一緒に遊べなくて残念です。is sho ni aso be na ku te zan nen de su

It is too bad that we cannot play together.

楽しみにしていた旅行が中止になって、残念でした。tano shi mi ni shi te i ta ryo kō ga chū shi ni na tte zan nen de shi ta

I was disappointed when the trip I had been looking forward to was canceled.

Core concept

Expresses that a hoped-for outcome has not happened and leaves a feeling of loss or regret.

Common phrases

  • 残念な結果zan nen na kek ka

    a disappointing result

  • 残念な知らせzan nen na shi ra se

    disappointing news

  • 残念に思うzan nen ni omo u

    feel sorry

Similar words

気の毒kinodoku: Describes a person or situation that deserves sympathy because of misfortune.

Definition in Japanese

期待や希望がかなわず、心残りであるさま。ki tai ya ki bō ga ka na wa zu kokoro noko ri de a ru sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 残念 (zannen) combines 残 (zan, "remain") and 念 (nen, "thought"), suggesting a thought that remains after an outcome falls short.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 残念です (zannen desu) can state disappointment about a canceled plan without blaming anyone.

Other meanings

  • disappointingna-adjective
  • regrettablena-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 残念さzannensadisappointmentnoun
  • 残念がるzannengarube disappointedverb

Word lists with this word