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

• 情けない〜

  情けない思い

  wretched feeling, shameful feeling

  情けない話

  pitiable story, shameful story

  情けない事

  pitiable thing, shameful thing

• 〜は情けない

  私は情けない

  I am pathetic

  僕は情けない

  I am pathetic

  自分は情けない

  I am pathetic, one is pathetic

• 〜が情けない

  自分が情けない

  I'm ashamed of myself

  出来ないのが情けない

  it's pathetic that someone can't do something

  自分の事が情けない

  I'm ashamed of myself

• 〜に情けない

  自分に情けない

  feel ashamed of oneself

  あまりに情けない

  too pathetic, too shameful

  本当に情けない

  really pathetic

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