可怜
Traditional: 可憐
kě lián HSK 4

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

这只小狗很可怜。
Zhè zhī xiǎogǒu hěn kělián.
This little dog is very pitiful.
我可怜那个孩子。
Wǒ kělián nàge háizi.
I pity that child.
他看起来很可怜。
Tā kàn qǐlái hěn kělián.
He looks very pitiful.
那只猫很可怜。
Nà zhī māo hěn kělián.
That cat is very pitiful.
他看起来很可怜。
Tā kàn qǐlái hěn kělián.
He looks very pitiful.

💡 Memory Tip

Break the characters: 可 (kě) means 'can' or 'may,' and 怜 (lián) relates to 'pity' or 'compassion.' Think: a situation that 'can evoke compassion' is 可怜. Associate it with a common phrase like '可怜的孩子' (poor child) to cement it.

📝 Usage Notes

Used in both spoken and written Chinese, across formal and informal contexts. Common when expressing sympathy for people, animals, or situations perceived as unfortunate, such as describing orphans, abandoned pets, or someone facing hardship. It can sometimes carry a slight condescending tone if overused.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used as a predicate adjective (e.g., 他很可怜). Can be modified by degree adverbs like 很, 真, 太. The structure '让/叫人+可怜' (e.g., 让人可怜) is common, meaning 'makes people feel pity.'

🏯 Cultural Notes

Expressing pity (可怜) is culturally acceptable and common. However, overusing it towards individuals, especially adults, might be seen as patronizing or implying weakness, so context and tone matter. It's warmly used for children, animals, or clear victims of circumstance.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 贫穷 (pínqióng), which means 'poor' financially. 可怜 is about evoking pity, while 贫穷 is a neutral economic term. Compared to 同情 (tóngqíng), a verb meaning 'to sympathize'; 可怜 is the adjective describing the pitiable state itself.

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