How to say "alas" in Japanese

• あたら
  adverbCovers 'alas' as a cry of regret over an unfortunate or tragic outcome — 'regrettably', 'to my great regret'. It is uncommon and is usually written in kana alone.
• 悲しいかなかなしいかな
  expressionCovers 'alas' as a resigned 'sad to say' or 'how sad' over a regrettable fact, often voiced as an aside within the sentence; it is uncommon.
• 何が悲しくてなにがかなしくて
  expressionGlossed 'unfortunately; alas', it is really a rhetorical phrase — literally 'what is so sad that...' — nearer to 'unfortunately' than to a sorrowful cry; uncommon, and seldom the word you want for plain 'alas'.

All three are uncommon ways to voice regret: 「あたら」 laments an unfortunate or tragic outcome with deep regret, 「悲しいかな」 sighs 'sad to say' at a regrettable fact, and 「何が悲しくて」 is really rhetorical, nearer to 'unfortunately'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• あたらalas
• 悲しいかなかなしいかなsad to say
• 哀れあわれalack
• 何が悲しくてなにがかなしくてunfortunately