お気の毒に
okinodoku ni
The Japanese phrase for sorry to hear that is お気の毒に (okinodoku ni).
お気の毒に is an expression of sympathy used to respond to someone who has experienced bad news or a misfortune. It is used when someone experiences a misfortune that is not directly related to you, such as a stranger losing their wallet or a colleague's relative passing away. Unlike the English phrase "I'm sorry," which can sometimes imply personal regret or guilt, お気の毒に focuses strictly on the unfortunate nature of the situation itself.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of o (an honorific prefix), ki (spirit or mind), nodoku (pitiful or unfortunate) and ni (an adverbial particle), literally meaning "to [be] in an unfortunate state of mind".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お気の毒に is a polite way to express sympathy, but it can sound somewhat detached or formal, like a bystander observing someone else's misfortune. If you want to express regret or sadness about something unfortunate happening to someone in an informal way, you might use 残念だね.
How do you pronounce it?
okinodoku ni
Did you know?
- Using this phrase to a superior might be seen as 'looking down' on them, as the word nodoku carries a nuance of viewing someone from a position of pity.
- In highly formal situations, such as a funeral, the phrase ご愁傷様です (goshūshō-sama desu) replaces お気の毒に as the standard expression of condolence.
- Because お気の毒に describes the state of one's 'spirit', using it to someone very close to you, like a spouse, can feel strangely distant or clinical.
Examples in context
- まあ、お気の毒に。Oh! I'm sorry to hear that.This sentence is useful for showing a reaction of sympathy.Tatoeba #195846 by bunbuku, translation #433724 by CK
- それはお気の毒に。I'm sorry to hear that.This sentence is useful for expressing sympathy regarding a situation.Tatoeba #9835294 by bunbuku, translation #41762 by CK
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki is talking to Kenta about his lost wallet.
- 美咲 Misaki財布をなくしたんですか？Saifu o nakushitan desu ka?Did you lose your wallet?
- 健太 Kentaはい、さっき駅で落としたみたいです。Hai, sakki eki de otoshita mitai desu.Yes, it seems I dropped it at the station just now.
- 美咲 Misakiそれはお気の毒に。Sore wa okinodoku ni.I am sorry to hear that.
- 健太 Kentaありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
