Nuance & Usage
悲しい describes a feeling of sadness or grief, often in response to a loss or unfortunate situation. To express that you feel sad, say 悲しい (casual) or 悲しいです (polite). To say something makes you feel sad, use 悲しくなる (become sad) or 悲しませる (cause sadness). Related: 悲しむ (kanashimu) is the verb form meaning "to grieve" or "to feel sad." For deeper grief, 辛い (tsurai — painful, tough) is also commonly used.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 悲しい to describe a neutral disappointing situation where Japanese speakers would use 残念 (zannen — unfortunate, what a shame) instead. Example: missing a sale is more 残念 than 悲しい. Reserve 悲しい for emotionally significant sadness. Also, remember it conjugates as an i-adjective: 悲しくない (not sad), 悲しかった (was sad).
Example Sentences (3)
その映画はとても悲しかったです。
そのえいがはとてもかなしかったです。
That movie was very sad.
友達と別れるのは悲しいです。
ともだちとわかれるのはかなしいです。
Saying goodbye to friends is sad.
なぜ悲しそうな顔をしているの？
なぜかなしそうなかおをしているの？
Why do you look sad?
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 悲しい with 4 different question types.
Want to practice this word?
Add to Fujiyama & Study with AI
Generate more example sentences, listen to native pronunciation, and review with SRS — all personalized to your JLPT level.