Chinese Conversation · Level 71
90 words
Chinese word
可怜
Pronunciation
Pinyinkě lián
Meaning
- adjectivepitiful
Example
那个孩子看起来很可怜。nà ge hái zi kàn qǐ lái hěn kě lián
That child looks very pitiful.
More examples
别让他觉得自己很可怜。bié ràng tā jué de zì jǐ hěn kě lián
Don't let him think he is very pitiful.
Core concept
A distressing condition that makes an observer feel compassion for the person or thing caught in it.
Common phrases
太可怜了tài kě lián le
too pitiful
可怜的表情kě lián de biǎo qíng
a pitiful expression
Similar words
无助wú zhù: Lacking the power or ability to solve a problem without help.
悲惨bēi cǎn: Marked by extreme suffering and misery in a situation or result.
Definition in Chinese
表示使人产生怜悯、同情或觉得可悲的性质或状态，常用来形容处于困境、弱势或不幸的人或事。biǎo shì shǐ rén chǎn shēng lián mǐn tóng qíng huò jué de kě bēi de xìng zhì huò zhuàng tài cháng yòng lái xíng róng chǔ yú kùn jìng ruò shì huò bú xìng de rén huò shì
Word origin
In 可怜 (kělián, "pitiful"), 可 (kě, "be worthy of") modifies 怜 (lián, "pity"), forming the sense of being in a state that invites pity.
Usage tips
- A third-person description can express sympathy, but saying this directly to someone may sound patronizing rather than kind.