可怜

kě lián

pitiful; to have pity on

HSK Level 5

Example Sentences

他很可怜,因为他没有父母。

tā hěn kělián, yīnwèi tā méiyǒu fùmǔ.

He is very pitiful because he has no parents.

她很可怜,因为她生病了。

tā hěn kělián, yīnwèi tā shēngbìngle.

She is very pitiful because she is sick.

他们很可怜,因为他们失去了家园。

tāmen hěn kělián, yīnwèi tāmen shīqùle jiāyuán.

They are very pitiful because they lost their home.

Synonyms

可怜巴巴 (kělián bābā)

pitiful

可怜兮兮 (kělián xīxī)

pitiful

Antonyms

可恨 (kěhèn)

hateful

可敬 (kějìng)

respectable

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Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 可怜 (kělián) is composed of two parts: 可 (kě) and 怜 (lián). 可 means "can" or "may", while 怜 means "pity" or "sympathy". Together, they form the word 可怜, which means "pitiful" or "pathetic".The word 可怜 has been used in Chinese for centuries. It is often used to describe someone who is in a difficult situation or who is suffering. For example, a person who has lost their job or who is sick might be described as 可怜.The word 可怜 can also be used to express sympathy or pity for someone. For example, if you see someone who is crying, you might say 可怜的人 (kělián de rén), which means "poor person".The word 可怜 is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. It is an important word to know for HSK learners, as it is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese.