Japanese Conversation · Level 63
75 words
Japanese word
気の毒
Pronunciation
Romajikinodoku
Meaning
- na-adjectivefeel sorry for
Example
一人で待っている彼が気の毒です。hito ri de ma tte i ru kare ga ki no doku de su
I feel sorry for him waiting alone.
More examples
失敗した友達を気の毒に思います。ship pai shi ta tomo dachi o ki no doku ni omo i ma su
I feel sorry for my friend who failed.
Core concept
Expresses sympathy toward someone facing an unfortunate or painful situation.
Common phrases
気の毒な人ki no doku na hito
a pitiful person
気の毒に思うki no doku ni omo u
feel sorry for
Similar words
かわいそうkawaisō: Describes a person or situation that deserves sympathy because of suffering or misfortune.
哀れaware: Describes someone or something that causes sadness or pity through weakness, misery, or helplessness.
不憫fubin: Describes a person whose hardship or suffering calls for compassion and concern.
Definition in Japanese
不幸な目に遭った人や、つらい状況にある人を見て、同情を寄せる気持ちになるさま。fu kō na me ni a tta hito ya tsu ra i jō kyō ni a ru hito o mi te dō jō o yo se ru ki mo chi ni na ru sa ma
Word origin
気の毒 (kinodoku) combines 気 (ki, "spirit or feeling") with 毒 (doku, "poison"), describing another's hardship as harmful to one's feelings and thus worthy of pity.
Usage tips
- 気の毒 (kinodoku) can describe both a person and the situation causing sympathy, so it often corresponds to "I feel sorry for him" rather than only to "pitiful."
Other meanings
- pitifulna-adjective
- unfortunatena-adjective
Related words
- 気の毒がるkinodokugarufeel sorry forverb
- 気の毒さkinodokusapitifulnessnoun