How to say "grieve" in Japanese

• 嘆くなげくJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers 'grieve' as lament — sorrow expressed aloud in sighs or words — and by extension regret over a loss or mistake; typical when mourning a death or bemoaning one's misfortune.
  「財布さいふを無なくした」ジョンは嘆なげいた。↗

  "I lost my wallet," lamented John.
• 泣かすなかすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbReally means to make someone cry or bring them to tears; its 'grieve' sense is a secondary, weeping use, and for English 'grieve' it is seldom the word you want.
• 憂えるうれえるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers grieving as inward sorrow: mourning, feeling sorrow for someone, or worrying over how things may turn out; the emotion is held within rather than voiced as lament.

Use 「嘆く」 for grieving expressed as lament or regret, 「憂える」 for sorrow and mourning held inward, and 「泣かす」 seldom for 'grieve', since it really means to make someone cry.

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

• 嘆くなげくto lament
• 嘆ずるたんずるto grieve
• 嘆じるたんじるto grieve
• 潮垂れるしおたれるto weep copiously
• 泣かすなかすto grieve
• 泣かせるなかせるto grieve
• 憂えるうれえるto lament
• 憂ううれうto lament
• 憂いるうれいるto lament