嘆く

• Reading: なげく
• Romaji: nageku
• Kanji breakdown: 嘆 (nage/tan) — to lament, grieve, sigh
• Pronunciation: /na.ɡe.kɯ/

Meaning

To lament; to grieve; to deplore. Expresses deep sorrow or regret about a situation.

A Group 1 (godan) verb that can be both transitive and intransitive. Used for expressing grief over loss, regret about circumstances, or deploring a social situation. The noun form 嘆き (nageki) is also common in literature.

Examples

1. 彼女は若くして亡くなった友人を嘆いた。 She grieved for her friend who had passed away at a young age.
2. 最近の若者のマナーの悪さを嘆く声が多い。 There are many voices deploring the poor manners of young people these days.
3. 運命を嘆いても何も変わらない。 Lamenting your fate won't change anything.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, social commentary, emotions

Tone: melancholic

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 嘆 combines 口 (mouth) with a phonetic component, representing a deep sigh or vocal expression of grief.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal