悲しい

• Reading: かなしい
• Romaji: kanashii
• Kanji breakdown: 悲 (kana/hi) — sad, sorrowful, grief
• Pronunciation: /ka.na.ɕi.i/

Meaning

Sad; miserable; unhappy; sorrowful. Describes a feeling of grief or sadness.

An i-adjective expressing sorrow or sadness. Used for both personal feelings and to describe sad situations, stories, or events. Commonly paired with 時 (time/when): 悲しい時は泣いてもいいです (it is okay to cry when you are sad). Conjugates regularly: 悲しくない, 悲しかった, 悲しくなかった.

Examples

1. この映画はとても悲しいです。 This movie is very sad.
2. ペットが死んで悲しかったです。 I was sad when my pet died.
3. 悲しい時は音楽を聞きます。 When I'm feeling sad, I listen to music.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, emotions, stories

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 悲 combines 非 (not, wrong) with 心 (heart), suggesting a heart that feels something is deeply wrong.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal