寂しい
sabishii[sa̠bʲiɕiː]
The English word 'lonely' is translated into Japanese as 寂しい (sabishii).
The word 寂しい is used to describe a person who is unhappy because they feel isolated. It can also be used to describe a place or an atmosphere that feels desolate or lonely. Additionally, the term さびしがり is used to describe a person who often feels lonely or is prone to loneliness.
Meaning: of person: unhappy by feeling isolated (adj)
Which one should you use?
The word 寂しい can also be written using the alternative kanji spelling 淋しい, though 寂しい is much more common in modern Japanese.
How do you pronounce it?
sabishii
Did you know?
- The aesthetic concept of 侘寂 (wabi-sabi) uses the kanji from 寂しい to describe a beauty found in imperfection and solitude.
- The word 寂しい is etymologically connected to the verb 錆びる, which means 'to rust'. This suggests an ancient conceptual link between the feeling of loneliness and the process of something decaying or growing old.
- Japanese speakers may use 寂しい to describe a meal or a room that lacks something essential, even if no people are involved.
Examples in context
- 私はとても寂しい。I'm really lonely.Tatoeba #159274 by bunbuku, translation #2648513 by CK
- すごく寂しいです。I'm so lonely.Tatoeba #11056005 by small_snow, translation #3941292 by AlanF_US
- トムは寂しいんだよ。Tom's lonely.Tatoeba #10085319 by small_snow, translation #2107562 by CK
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are talking about moving to a new city.
- 蓮 Ren一人暮らしは寂しいですか。Hitorigurashi wa sabishii desu ka.Is living alone lonely?
- 結衣 Yui時々寂しいですが、楽しいです。Tokidoki sabishii desu ga, tanoshii desu.I'm lonely sometimes, but it's fun.
- 蓮 Ren友達はできましたか。Tomodachi wa dekimashita ka.Have you made any friends?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、だからもう寂しくないです。Hai, dakara mou sabishiku nai desu.Yes, so I'm not lonely anymore.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lonely” translations and entries 寂しい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 寂しい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
