Meaning
可怜 describes someone or something that evokes pity or sympathy. It can describe a person in unfortunate circumstances (a pitiful beggar) or express compassion (I pity him). The word combines 可 (can, worthy of) and 怜 (to pity), literally meaning 'worthy of pity.'
Usage
Native speakers commonly use 可怜 to express sympathy for someone in difficult circumstances. It can be used directly as an adjective (他很可怜) or as a verb meaning 'to pity' someone (可怜他). The tone is generally sympathetic rather than contemptuous, though context matters. Often appears in the phrase 真可怜 (really pitiful).
Examples
- 01那个小孩失去了父母，真可怜。, .That child lost his parents, how pitiful.
- 02看到街上的流浪狗，我觉得它们很可怜。, .Seeing the stray dogs on the street, I feel sorry for them.
Characters
Common collocations
- 真可怜really pitiful
- 可怜的人a pitiful person
- 可怜巴巴pathetic-looking, pitifully
Antonyms
Origin
The character 怜 contains the heart radical 忄, indicating emotional content. Historically, 怜 meant tender affection or compassion, while 可 indicates that something is worthy or deserving of that feeling.