Chinese word

可惜

Pronunciation

Pinyinkě xī

Meaning

  • adverbunfortunately

Example

可惜今天下雨，我们不能出去。kě xī jīn tiān xià yǔ wǒ men bù néng chū qù

Unfortunately, it is raining today, so we cannot go out.

Illustration for 可惜 (unfortunately)

More examples

可惜没有买到票。kě xī méi yǒu mǎi dào piào

Unfortunately, I didn't get a ticket.

Core concept

A valued chance or result slips away before it can be enjoyed.

Common phrases

  • 真可惜zhēn kě xī

    really a shame

  • 太可惜了tài kě xī le

    what a pity

  • 可惜没有kě xī méi yǒu

    unfortunately not

Similar words

不巧bù qiǎo: Marks that an inconvenient circumstance happens at an unfortunate time.
偏偏piān piān: Emphasizes that events turn out contrary to what was wanted or expected.
正好zhèng hǎo: Indicates that the timing or conditions fit exactly.

Definition in Chinese

表示对失去机会或未达预期结果的惋惜之情，语气可轻可重，常放在句首或句中作为副词。biǎo shì duì shī qù jī huì huò wèi dá yù qī jié guǒ de wǎn xī zhī qíng yǔ qì kě qīng kě zhòng cháng fàng zài jù shǒu huò jù zhōng zuò wéi fù cí

Word origin

可惜 (kěxī, "unfortunately") joins 可 (kě, "worthy or possible") and 惜 (xī, "to spare or regret"), linking value with the regret caused when something does not happen as hoped.

Usage tips

  • In conversational speech, the word can stand alone as a brief reaction or introduce the reason for the disappointment, so its position helps show whether the speaker is reacting or explaining.

Other meanings

  • a pityadjective
  • a wasteadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word