How to say "compassionate" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 情け深いなさけぶかいi-adjectiveDescribes a person whose heart readily goes out to people in trouble and who helps them; covers 'tender-hearted' and 'charitable' alongside 'compassionate'. The most common of these near-synonyms and a safe default choice.
- 慈悲深いじひぶかいi-adjectiveCovers 'compassionate' in the sense of 'merciful': deep, forgiving benevolence toward the suffering, often with religious overtones, as in describing a merciful Buddha or god. Less common than 情け深い.
- 情に厚いじょうにあついexpression, i-adjectiveDescribes a person rich in human warmth who feels for others in distress. It leans toward the 'sympathetic' side of 'compassionate' — warmth of feeling rather than mercy or charity.
- 情の深いじょうのふかいexpression, i-adjectiveClose in meaning to 情け深い: a kind-hearted person of deep human warmth, charitable to those in need. A less common way to say 'compassionate'; 情け深い is usually the first word to reach for.
- 心優しいこころやさしいi-adjectiveDescribes a gentle, kind-hearted nature, tender and considerate toward others. Its 'compassionate' is the tender-hearted kind; for mercy or charity, one of the other words fits better.
Use 「情け深い」 for a compassionate, charitable person in general; 「慈悲深い」 for compassion as mercy, often with religious overtones; 「情に厚い」 and 「情の深い」 for warm-hearted sympathy; 「心優しい」 for gentle, tender-hearted kindness.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
