情けない Miserable

Meaning

Primary

Miserable

Alternatives

Pathetic, Shameful, Deplorable, Wretched, Sad, Pitiable

Word Type

い adjective

Explanation

You've seen how the word 情け means pity, so adding ない to that turns it into an adjective meaning pitiable and miserable.

Reading

なさけない

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You learned this reading already so you should be able to read it!

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜が情けない

  自分の事が情けない

  I'm ashamed of myself

  出来ないのが情けない

  it's pathetic that someone can't do something

  自分が情けない

  I'm ashamed of myself

• 〜は情けない

  自分は情けない

  I am pathetic, one is pathetic

  僕は情けない

  I am pathetic

  私は情けない

  I am pathetic

• 〜に情けない

  本当に情けない

  really pathetic

  あまりに情けない

  too pathetic, too shameful

  自分に情けない

  feel ashamed of oneself

• 情けない〜

  情けない事

  pitiable thing, shameful thing

  情けない話

  pitiable story, shameful story

  情けない思い

  wretched feeling, shameful feeling

Context Sentences

今日もまたプレゼンでうまく話せなかったので、自分のことを情けないなと思いました。

I felt pathetic again today because I couldn't speak well during the presentation.

彼はその時、とても情けなさそうにしていました。

At that time, he looked very miserable.

情けないんですが、すぐに人を信じる性格なので、よくだまされるんです。

It's sad, but I have a very trusting nature, so I often get duped.

Kanji Composition

1. 情

   じょう Feeling