悲劇

• Reading: ひげき
• Romaji: higeki
• Kanji breakdown: 悲 (hi) — sorrow, sadness; 劇 (geki) — drama, play
• Pronunciation: /hi.ɡe.ki/

Meaning

Tragedy; a dramatic work with an unhappy ending, or a deeply sad event.

A noun used both in theatrical and literary contexts to describe a tragic drama and in everyday language to describe unfortunate events. The opposite is 喜劇 (kigeki, comedy). Common usage: 悲劇的 (higekiteki, tragic), 悲劇を繰り返す (higeki wo kurikaesu, to repeat a tragedy). Often appears in news and discussions of historical events or disasters.

Examples

1. シェイクスピアの悲劇は世界中で有名だ。 Shakespeare's tragedies are famous around the world.
2. この映画は実際に起きた悲劇を基にしている。 This movie is based on a tragedy that actually happened.
3. 同じ悲劇を二度と繰り返してはいけない。 We must never repeat the same tragedy again.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, news, history

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 悲 (hi, sad/sorrowful) and 劇 (geki, drama/play). Originally a translation of the Western literary concept of 'tragedy,' adapted during the Meiji era.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal