Meaning

Primary

To Be Sad About

Alternative

To Be Saddened By

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means sad and this verb is transitive, so it means to be sad about something. Boohoo.

Reading

かなしむ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

If you're going to be sad about something right now, it will be kana (かな). Don't use kana when you're trying to learn kanji! You'll be sad forever if you're stuck using kana your whole life, so don't let that habit start now, friend.

Context

Context Sentences

彼女が悲しむのは見たくありません。

I don't want to see her sad.

人間だけではなく、動物も仲間の死を悲しみます。

Animals, as well as humans, are saddened by the deaths of their friends.

彼女は愛するペットが亡くなってとても悲しんでいます。

She was very saddened by the loss of her beloved pet.

Kanji Composition