悔しい

• Reading: くやしい
• Romaji: kuyashii
• Kanji breakdown: 悔 (kai/ku) — regret, repent
• Pronunciation: /kɯ.ja.ɕiː/

Meaning

Frustrating; vexing; mortifying. Describes the bitter feeling of regret or defeat.

An i-adjective expressing the emotional pain of losing, failing, or being unable to do something. Carries a sense of personal frustration rather than simple sadness. Often heard in competitive settings: 試合に負けて悔しい (I lost the match and it is so frustrating). Conjugates regularly: 悔しくない, 悔しかった.

Examples

1. 試験に落ちてとても悔しかった。 I was so frustrated when I failed the exam.
2. 悔しいけど彼のほうが上手だと認める。 It's frustrating, but I admit he's better than me.
3. あと一点で合格だったのが悔しい。 Being just one point short of passing is so maddening.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, competition, personal reflection

Tone: emotional

Origin & History

From the verb 悔いる (kuiru, to regret/rue). The kanji 悔 combines 忄 (heart radical) and 毎 (every), suggesting a heart that revisits a painful memory again and again.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal