How to say "compassion" in Japanese

• 慈悲じひCommon
  no-adjectiveMerciful compassion, clemency, or pity shown by someone in a position of power toward those at their mercy, as in religious or moral contexts; the tone is of benevolence extended from above.
  ヤッパリさんが裁判官さいばんかんに慈悲じひを求もとめて訴うったえた。↗

  Mr. Yappari appealed to the judge for mercy.
• 同情どうじょうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe everyday word for feeling sympathy or compassion for another person's suffering or misfortune; use it when you feel for someone and their situation, rather than for mercy granted from a superior position.
  彼かれのことを同情どうじょうせずにはいられない。↗

  I cannot but feel sorry for him.
• 情けなさけJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounHuman warmth and compassion extended toward others, often with a sense of mercy or leniency toward someone in a weaker position; it also covers pity, and the nuance is of kindness coming from the heart.
  旅たびは道連みちづれ世せいは情なさけ。↗

  No road is long with good company.
• 仁じんCommon
  nounCompassion understood as a moral virtue, especially benevolence or humanity in the Confucian sense; for ordinary feelings of sympathy or pity toward someone, this is seldom the word you want.
  巧言こうげん令色れいしょく少すくなし仁じん。↗

  Fair words butter no parsnips.
• 哀れあわれJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounPrimarily pity, sorrow, or pathos at a sad or moving situation, rather than active compassion; it is really about the feeling of being moved or grieving, and is a marginal choice for 'compassion' itself.
  彼女かのじょは哀あわれを誘さそう有様ありさまだった。↗

  She was in a piteous state.

Choose 慈悲 for merciful compassion from a position of power, 同情 for sympathy with someone's suffering, 「情け」 for human kindness or mercy shown to others, 仁 for compassion as a moral virtue, and 「哀れ」 mainly for pity and pathos.

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

• 慈悲じひmercy
• 同情どうじょうsympathy
• 情けなさけpity
• 仁じんbenevolence (esp. as a virtue of Confucianism)
• 哀れあわれpity
• 思いやりおもいやりconsideration
• 哀れみあわれみpity
• 惻隠そくいんcompassion
• 恩情おんじょうcompassion
• 惻隠の情そくいんのじょうcompassion
• 憐情れんじょうcompassion
• 仏性ほとけしょうmercifulness
• 憐憫れんびんpity
• 恕じょconsideration
• 哀憐あいれんpity
• 慈悲心じひしんmerciful heart
• 同情心どうじょうしんsympathy
• 憫察びんさつtaking pity upon
• お情けおなさけpity
• 憫諒びんりょうpity
• 諒恕りょうじょconsideration (for someone's circumstances)
• 情合じょうあいaffection
• 情じょうcompassion
• 有情うじょうhumaneness