JLPT N1 · Japanese kanji

哀

哀 — pathetic

Reading
アイ・あわ.れ・あわ.れむ・かな.しい
Meaning
pathetic; grief; sorrow; pathos; pity; sympathize
JLPT level
N1
Language
Japanese

About this kanji

哀 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N1 level. Its primary reading is アイ・あわ.れ・あわ.れむ・かな.しい and it means pathetic; grief; sorrow; pathos; pity; sympathize. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.

哀 appears in everyday japanese words such as 哀れ (helpless) and 可哀想 (poor).

Japanese words containing 哀

Frequently asked questions

What does 哀 mean in Japanese?

哀 means pathetic; grief; sorrow; pathos; pity; sympathize in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N1 kanji every learner meets at that level.

How is 哀 read?

哀 is read アイ・あわ.れ・あわ.れむ・かな.しい. Reading it inside real words — 哀れ and 可哀想 — is the fastest way to remember it.

What level is 哀 — is it JLPT N1?

Yes. 哀 is on the official JLPT N1 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.

How do you use 哀 in a word?

A common word containing 哀 is 哀れ (あわれ) — "helpless". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.

How do I learn 哀 effectively?

Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 哀 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.

More JLPT N1 kanji

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