悲しむ

• Reading: かなしむ
• Romaji: kanashimu
• Kanji breakdown: 悲 (kana/hi) — sad, sorrowful
• Pronunciation: /ka.na.ɕi.mɯ/

Meaning

To be sad; to mourn; to grieve. To feel sorrow or regret over something.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb ending in む. Expresses the active experience of sadness, grief, or mourning. Deeper and more sustained than simply feeling 悲しい (sad as an adjective). Used for mourning a death, grieving a loss, or lamenting a situation. Often appears as 悲しんでいる (to be grieving) in the progressive form.

Examples

1. ペットが死んで家族みんなが悲しんでいる。 The whole family is grieving over the death of their pet.
2. 友達の失敗を自分のことのように悲しんだ。 I felt my friend's failure as if it were my own.
3. 別れを悲しむ時間も必要だと思う。 I think you need time to grieve a separation.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, loss, literature

Tone: somber

Origin & History

From the kanji 悲 (hi/kana, sad/sorrowful). The character combines 非 (not/wrong) and 心 (heart), suggesting a heart that feels something is wrong — the emotional state of grief.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal