哀
pathetic · grief · sorrow · pathos · pity · sympathize
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of mouth and clothes. Lamenting in mourning clothes.
Symbolism
Sorrow, pathos, pity. Represents deep sadness and sympathy.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Pathos of transient beauty
Words & Expressions
Words written with 哀
Four-Character Compounds
喜怒哀楽
きどあいらく
human emotions (joy, anger, grief and pleasure); feelings
哀毀骨立
あいきこつりつ
losing weight and becoming bony because of grief
Proverbs & Idioms
哀れみは人の情け
あわれみはひとのなさけ
Pity is human kindness
Compassion is a natural human emotion
Other kanji with the same meaning
“pity”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 哀 mean in Japanese?
哀 means pathetic, grief, sorrow, pathos, pity, sympathize.
How do you read 哀?
On'yomi: アイ (AI). Kun'yomi: あわ.れ、あわ.れむ、かな.しい (aware, awaremu, kanashii).
How many strokes does 哀 have?
哀 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 口 (mouth).
Is 哀 a good kanji for a tattoo?
哀 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means pathetic, grief, sorrow, pathos, pity, sympathize. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:pity