HSK · Level 60
105 words
Chinese word
可悲
Pronunciation
Pinyinkě bēi
Meaning
- adjectivepathetic
Example
看到他这样，我觉得很可悲。kàn dào tā zhè yàng wǒ jué de hěn kě bēi
Seeing him like this, I find it so pathetic.
More examples
这场事故的后果很可悲，值得我们深刻反省。zhè chǎng shì gù de hòu guǒ hěn kě bēi zhí de wǒ men shēn kè fán xǐng
The consequences of this accident are truly pathetic, and we should reflect deeply on them.
Core concept
Something so sorrowful or wretched that it draws pity, sometimes mixed with contempt.
Common phrases
可悲的行为kě bēi de xíng wéi
pathetic behavior
真是可悲zhēn shì kě bēi
truly pathetic
Similar words
可怜kě lián: Appearing helpless and in need of help, which arouses sympathy.
可耻ké chǐ: Bringing shame and deserving strong criticism or contempt.
悲惨bēi cǎn: Showing extreme misery and suffering in a situation or outcome.
悲伤bēi shāng: Feeling deeply sad and heartbroken, with little energy.
Definition in Chinese
形容令人觉得可怜、悲惨或令人惋惜的情形，有时含讥讽意味。xíng róng lìng rén jué de kě lián bēi cǎn huò lìng rén wǎn xī de qíng xíng yǒu shí hán jī fěng yì wèi
Word origin
可 (kě, "deserving of") + 悲 (bēi, "sadness") presents something as worthy of pity because it is sorrowful.
Usage tips
- In conversation, applying this word to a person can sound like a harsh judgment rather than warm sympathy, so the context determines whether it expresses pity or scorn.
Other meanings
- pitifuladjective
- tragicadjective
Opposites
- 可喜ké xǐjoyfuladjective
Related words
- 可悲可叹kě bēi kě tànlamentableidiom