悲しむ・哀しむ|かなしむkanashimu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
悲しむ悲しむ is written with kanji and kana and is the most common written form. Beginners should use it.
哀しむ哀しむ is also written with kanji and kana, but it is less common than 悲しむ. Learners should generally choose 悲しむ instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto be sad; to mourn for; to regret悲しんでいる彼女をそっとしておきなさい。↗Do not obtrude upon her sorrow.
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 悲しむ（かなしむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 悲しみます（かなしみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 悲しまない（かなしまない） |
| polite (masen) | 悲しみません（かなしみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 悲しまず・悲しまぬ（かなしまず・かなしまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 悲しんだ（かなしんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 悲しみました（かなしみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 悲しまなかった（かなしまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 悲しみませんでした（かなしみませんでした） |
| Te form | 悲しんで（かなしんで） |
| Potential | 悲しめる（かなしめる） |
| Passive | 悲しまれる（かなしまれる） |
| Causative | 悲しませる（かなしませる） |
| Causative passive | 悲しませられる・悲しまされる（かなしませられる・かなしまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 悲しめば（かなしめば） |
| tara | 悲しんだら（かなしんだら） |
| Volitional | 悲しもう（かなしもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 悲しみましょう（かなしみましょう） |
| Imperative | 悲しめ（かなしめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym悔やむくやむNeutralMeans regretting one's actions, or mourning the dead, as in 「失敗を悔やむ」「お悔やみ」; the mourning use need not imply remorse. 「悲しむ」 only describes inner sadness.
- Synonym嘆くなげくNeutralTo lament — often voicing the sorrow aloud, as in 「不運を嘆く」; carries a tone of complaint or deep emotion. 「悲しむ」 stays an inner feeling.
- Synonym悼むいたむWrittenWritten/formal prose for mourning the dead, as in 「故人を悼む」; used only for death. 「悲しむ」 takes any object of sadness.
- Synonym悲嘆ひたんWrittenWritten/formal prose for intense grief and lamentation, as in 「悲嘆に暮れる」; a far deeper state than 「悲しむ」.
- Synonym悲しがるかなしがるNeutralFocuses on showing sadness outwardly and is mostly said of other people; more overt than 「悲しむ」, which centres on the sadness one feels.
- Related弔うとむらうNeutralSpecifically for death: mourning the dead, holding memorial services, or offering condolences to the bereaved. 「悲しむ」 applies to a much wider range.
- Related嘆じるたんじるWrittenWritten/formal prose: to sigh and lament in sorrow or regret; can also express admiration. 「悲しむ」 covers only inner sadness, not admiration.
- Related嘆ずるたんずるWrittenThe suru-verb form of 「嘆じる」; written/formal prose. Laments, and can also express indignation or admiration — senses 「悲しむ」 does not have.
- Related愁傷しゅうしょうWrittenWritten/formal prose, mostly confined to the condolence set phrase 「ご愁傷様です」; rarely used alone. 「悲しむ」 is ordinary, general sadness.
- Antonym喜ぶよろこぶNeutralAntonym: to feel joy or delight, also to congratulate. Opposite of 「悲しむ」 in whether the feeling is good or bad.
- Antonym楽しむたのしむNeutralAntonym in mood: to enjoy and take pleasure in something. Contrasts with 「悲しむ」 emotionally, but stresses actively enjoying an activity.
Use 「悲しむ」 for sadness felt in the heart. For sorrow voiced aloud, choose 「嘆く」; for mourning the dead, 「悼む」 or 「弔う」; for regret, 「悔やむ」. 「悲しがる」 shows sadness outwardly, 「悲嘆」 and the written 「嘆じる」「嘆ずる」 are stronger or more formal, 「愁傷」 appears in condolences, and the opposites are 「喜ぶ」 and 「楽しむ」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
