How to say "grief" in Japanese

• 嘆きなげきCommon
  nounCovers grief as lamentation—active mourning or audible sorrowing over a loss. Use it when the nuance is grieving expressed through lament rather than quiet inner sadness.
  彼かれの死しを嘆き悲なげきかなしんだ。↗

  I felt deep sorrow at his death.
• 悲しみかなしみCommon
  nounThe broadest and most everyday word for grief, covering sadness, sorrow, and mourning alike. When unsure which word to use for 'grief', this is usually the safest choice.
  時ときはどんな悲かなしみも癒いやしてくれる。↗

  Time tames the strongest grief.
• 哀れあわれJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounGrief tinged with pity or pathos, often directed at another's misery or at something pitiable. As a rendering of 'grief' it is somewhat literary; its core senses are pity and sorrow.
  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.
• 憂いうれいCommon
  nounGrief felt as anguish, distress, or a heavy sorrow weighing on the heart. Choose it for deeper, more brooding sadness than 悲しみ suggests.
  憂うれいの反面はんめんには喜よろこびがあるものだ。↗

  Every cloud has a silver lining.
• 哀愁あいしゅうCommon
  nounA wistful, poetic sorrow or pathos rather than acute personal grief. It suits gentle melancholy over a scene or memory, and is rarely the word for sharp mourning.

「悲しみ」 is the everyday default for grief; 「嘆き」 stresses lamenting; 「哀れ」 and 哀愁 are literary flavors of sorrow and pathos; 「憂い」 suggests deeper anguish or a lingering melancholy.

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

• 嘆きなげきgrief
• 悲しみかなしみsadness
• 哀れあわれpity
• 憂いうれいsorrow
• 哀愁あいしゅうpathos
• 悲痛ひつうgrief
• 悲嘆ひたんgrief
• 悲哀ひあいsorrow
• 傷心しょうしんheartbreak
• 断腸だんちょうheartbreak
• 痛みいたみpain
• 憂き目うきめbitter experience
• 愁傷しゅうしょうgrief
• グリーフgrief
• 哀惜あいせきgrief
• 哀哭あいこくgrief
• 悲傷ひしょうgrief
• 悲愁ひしゅうgrief
• 憂愁ゆうしゅうmelancholy
• 愁嘆しゅうたんlamentation
• 哀傷あいしょうsorrow
• 哀情あいじょうsorrow
• 悲しさかなしさsadness
• 憂い事うれいごとbitter experience
• 嘆たんgrief
• 憂えうれえgrief