悲しげ・哀しげ・悲し気・哀し気|かなしげkanashige
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Which spelling to use
悲しげ悲しげ is the most common form and the recommended choice for beginners; it is written with mixed kanji and kana and means “seeming sad.”
哀しげ哀しげ is less common than 悲しげ; it is another mixed kanji-and-kana spelling expressing the same meaning, “seeming sad.”
悲し気悲し気 is less common than 悲しげ and 哀しげ. It is a mixed kanji-and-kana variant meaning “seeming sad.”
哀し気哀し気 is the least common of these four forms. It is a mixed kanji-and-kana variant meaning “seeming sad,” so beginners should use 悲しげ.
Definitions
- na-adjective, nounseeming sad
Conjugation
| Plain form | 悲しげ（かなしげ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 悲しげです（かなしげです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 悲しげではない（かなしげではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 悲しげではありません（かなしげではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 悲しげだった（かなしげだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 悲しげではなかった（かなしげではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 悲しげで（かなしげで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 悲しげに（かなしげに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 悲しげなら（かなしげなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related痛ましいいたましいWrittenWritten register. So distressing you can hardly bear to look, as in 「痛ましい事故」; it stresses the dreadful scene, not a sad expression.
- Related不幸せふしあわせNeutralNeutral. An unhappy lot in life — misfortune or bad luck — a matter of circumstances and fate, not of the expression on someone's face.
- Related悲痛ひつうWrittenWritten register. Deep anguish brought on by a misfortune, as in 「悲痛な叫び」; it stresses how intense the pain is, where 「悲しげ」 only says someone seems sad.
- Related沈痛ちんつうWrittenWritten register. Grave, heavy sorrow, as in 「沈痛な面持ち」; it can describe a solemn expression, but the sadness is deep and serious rather than merely apparent.
- Related不幸ふこうNeutralNeutral. Misfortune or bereavement — suffering a disaster or losing a loved one — not the visible sadness 「悲しげ」 describes.
- Related悲しいかなしいNeutralThe everyday, most common word for sadness; it centres on the feeling itself rather than on how sadness shows outwardly, which is what 「悲しげ」 is about.
- Related物悲しいものがなしいWrittenWritten register. A faint, causeless melancholy — often of autumn scenery — rather than sadness showing on a face; it names a mood, not an expression.
- Relatedうら悲しいうらがなしいWrittenWritten and rare. A vague sorrow deep inside with no clear source; it names an inner mood, not an outward look like 「悲しげ」.
- Related哀れ気あわれげNeutralNeutral. A look that moves you to pity; close to 「悲しげ」 but with a stronger note of pitifulness.
- Antonym楽し気NeutralAntonym: looking cheerful and happy — the opposite of 「悲しげ」.
- Antonym嬉し気NeutralAntonym: looking delighted and joyful; the direct opposite of 「悲しげ」.
「悲しげ」 is for sadness visible in someone's face or manner, as in 「悲しげな目」「悲しげに笑う」. Say 「悲しい」 for your own feelings and 「物悲しい」 for a causeless melancholy. 「痛ましい」「悲痛」「沈痛」 are written words for far graver sorrow; 「不幸せ」「不幸」 point to unhappy circumstances rather than looks; 「哀れ気」 stresses a pitiful appearance; 「楽し気」「嬉し気」 are the opposites.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
