How to say "deplorable" in Japanese

• 遺憾いかんCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers the formal, official sense of 'deplorable' as regrettable or unsatisfactory, e.g. a situation or outcome one formally deplores. The tone is stiff and public rather than emotional.
  それは遺憾いかんながら本当ほんとうだ。↗

  That, while regrettable, is true.
• 嘆かわしいなげかわしいCommon
  i-adjectiveUsed for something truly lamentable or deplorable in a moral sense, a state of affairs that makes one grieve or sigh over how bad it is. Stronger and more heartfelt than 遺憾.
  彼女かのじょがこれほど自分勝手じぶんかってなのは嘆なげかわしい。↗

  It is deplorable that she is so selfish.
• 情けないなさけないCommon
  i-adjectiveCovers 'deplorable' in the sense of shameful or pitiable, describing conduct or a performance so poor it embarrasses or disappoints. It often carries contempt for someone's weakness.
  ってゆーか、こうやってぐじぐじ考かんがえるのが情なさけないんじゃないのか？↗

  Or rather, is it not just pathetic that I think such whiny thoughts like this?
• 見苦しいみぐるしいJLPT N1approx.Common
  i-adjectiveLiterally 'unsightly' or 'ugly', it applies when 'deplorable' means unseemly or indecent, especially behavior that is disgraceful to watch. As a rendering of 'deplorable' it is a narrower, more visual choice.
  ここだけの話はなしだけれど、あの太ふとった見苦みぐるしい魔女まじょは減量げんりょう中ちゅうなのだ。↗

  Between ourselves, the fat ugly witch is on a diet.
• 悲しいかなしいJLPT N4approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThis is basically the everyday word for 'sad', and 'deplorable' or 'lamentable' appear only as secondary glosses. It is seldom the word you want for 'deplorable'; choose it only when simple sadness is meant.

For formal condemnation of a situation use 遺憾; for something to lament use 「嘆かわしい」; for shameful, pitiable behavior use 「情けない」; for unseemly conduct use 「見苦しい」; plain sadness takes 「悲しい」.

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

• 遺憾いかんregrettable
• 嘆かわしいなげかわしいlamentable
• 情けないなさけないmiserable
• 見苦しいみぐるしいunsightly
• 寒心かんしんdeplorable
• すぼらしいmeasly
• 悲しいかなしいsad