How to say "sadness" in Japanese

• 悲しみかなしみCommon
  nounThe all-purpose word: it covers plain sadness, sorrow, and grief alike, from feeling low to mourning a loss. When you just want to say 'sadness', start here.
  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.
• 憂さうさCommon
  nounA brooding gloom or melancholy rather than tears over a loss — despondency that one wants to shake off. For plain sadness or grief it is seldom the word you want.
• 悲哀ひあいCommon
  nounA deep, poignant sorrow with a tinge of pathos; it suits the tragic sadness of a situation or of life itself more than momentary low spirits.
  知識ちしきを増ます者ものは悲哀ひあいを増ます。↗

  He that increases knowledge increases sorrows.

Use 「悲しみ」 as the all-purpose word for sadness, sorrow, and grief; pick 「憂さ」 for a gloomy, brooding despondency and 悲哀 for a deep, poignant sorrow — neither fits plain everyday sadness.

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

• 悲しみかなしみsadness
• 憂さうさgloom
• 悲哀ひあいsorrow
• 悲しさかなしさsadness
• 哀情あいじょうsorrow