可惜
kěxī
The English phrase 'pity' (as a noun expressing a feeling of sympathy) is translated into Chinese as 可惜 (kěxī).
可惜 is used to express regret over a missed opportunity or a wasted resource. It can also function as a conjunction at the beginning of a clause to mean 'it is a pity that…'.
Meaning: feeling of sympathy (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 可惜 is composed of 可 (kě), meaning 'can' or 'able to' and 惜 (xī), meaning 'to cherish' or 'to regret'.
Which one should you use?
While both 可惜 and 可憐 / 可怜 can be translated as 'pity' in English, they are used in different contexts. Use 可惜 to express regret over a missed opportunity or a wasted resource, whereas 可憐 / 可怜 is used to express sympathy for a person's suffering or misfortune.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In natural speech, the phrase 'what a pity' is frequently expressed using the pattern 太…了 (tài…le) to add emphasis, resulting in the form 太可惜了.
How do you pronounce it?
kěxī
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, saying 可惜 when someone fails a goal can be a way to save 'face' by suggesting the failure was due to bad luck rather than a lack of ability.
- The character 惜 contains the 'heart' radical (心) at the bottom, visually linking the concept of pity and cherishing to an emotion of the heart.
- While 可惜 expresses regret, the word 惜 on its own is often used in the phrase 惜才, meaning to cherish and value a person's talent.
Examples in context
- 真是太可惜了！What a pity!This sentence is useful for expressing 'What a pity!' using 可惜.Tatoeba #2347835 by GlossaMatik, translation #24885 by CK
- 可惜我没看到这个。What a pity that I did not see it.This sentence shows how to use 可惜 to mean 'it is a pity that…'.Tatoeba #4264571 by notabene, translation #4584839 by LeeSooHa
- 您昨晚沒來真是太可惜了！It's a pity you didn't come last night.This sentence demonstrates the use of 可惜 to express regret about someone's absence.Tatoeba #3704923 by egg0073, translation #2267433 by _undertoad
- 我为他没有参加比赛而感到遗憾。I feel pity for him not participating in the competition.
- 这个好机会被他错过了，真是太惋惜了。It's such a pity that he missed this great opportunity.
- 他没能赢得比赛，真是太可惜了。It's such a pity that he didn't win the competition.
- 你没能参加派对，真是有点遗憾。It's a bit of a pity that you couldn't join the party.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a canceled outdoor event due to rain.
- 志强 Zhiqiang今天不能去露营了，真可惜。Jīntiān bùnéng qù lùyíng le, zhēn kěxī.We can't go camping today, it's such a pity.
- 佳怡 Jiayi是啊，天气太糟糕了。Shì a, tiānqì tài zāogāo le.Yeah, the weather is terrible.
- 志强 Zhiqiang佳怡，你准备了很久吧？Jiāyí, nǐ zhǔnbèi le hěnjiǔ ba?Jiayi, you prepared for a long time, right?
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，不过也没办法。Shì de, bùguò yě méi bànfǎ.Yes, but there's nothing we can do.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
