情けない
nasakenai[na̠sa̠ke̞na̠i]
In Japanese, 'so pathetic' can be expressed as 情けない (nasakenai).
The adjective 情けない is used to describe someone or something that is miserably inadequate, shameful or disappointingly poor. It can describe a person's character or actions, as well as a specific situation or a result that is disappointingly poor.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, it means 'lacking compassion/feeling' in a way that describes a miserable state.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal way to say 'so pathetic', you can use とても哀れです. In informal situations, you might use めっちゃ惨め. The standard form 情けない can be made polite by adding です to the end, resulting in 情けないです, which is suitable for use with people you are not close to.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something was pathetic in the past, use the past tense form 情けなかった. To connect this adjective to another clause (for example, 'It was so pathetic that I cried'), use the te-form 情けなくて.
How do you pronounce it?
nasakenai
Did you know?
- While 情けない often means 'pathetic', the root word 情け (nasake) can be used as a plea for mercy or pity, similar to saying 'Have a heart' in English.
- The adjective 情けない is frequently used by speakers to describe their own feelings of shame or disappointment in themselves, not just to insult others.
- In Japanese, calling someone 情けない often implies that they have failed to live up to a specific social role or expectation, rather than just being generally inadequate.
Examples in context
- 彼の行動はとても哀れです。His behavior is so pathetic.
- 彼の失恋の様子見てたら、めっちゃ惨めだったよ。I watched how he acted after his breakup, he was so pathetic.
- そんな言い訳をするなんて、情けない。Sonna iiwake o suru nante, nasakenai.Making excuses like that is so pathetic.
- 自分に負けるなんて、本当に情けない。Jibun ni makeru nante, hontō ni nasakenai.Losing to oneself is truly pathetic.
- あんな態度をとるなんて、情けない奴だ。Anna taido o toru nante, nasakenai yatsu da.He is a pathetic guy for acting like that.
Example conversation
Ren is feeling dejected after failing a simple task.
- 蓮 Renまた失敗してしまった。Mata shippai shite shimatta.I failed again.
- 結衣 Yuiそんなに落ち込むなんて、情けないよ。Sonna ni ochikomu nante, nasakenai yo.It's so pathetic of you to be so depressed.
- 蓮 Ren自分でも情けないと思う。Jibun demo nasakenai to omou.I think I am pathetic too.
- 結衣 Yui次は頑張ればいいんだよ。Tsugi wa ganbareba ii n da yo.You just need to try harder next time.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 情けない, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
