情け|なさけnasake[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounpity; sympathy; compassion; mercy
   旅たびは道連みちづれ世せいは情なさけ。↗

   No road is long with good company.
2. nounaffection; love

• Synonym慈悲じひNeutralMercy and compassion with a Buddhist tinge, as in 「慈悲深い」; 「情け」 stresses human warmth and sympathy for the weak.
• Synonym同情どうじょうNeutralFeeling another's pain as if it were your own; can also be used as a verb. 「情け」 stresses warm humanity and the act of granting mercy.
• Synonym思いやりおもいやりNeutralEveryday consideration and care for others, with a positive ring; 「情け」 leans toward pity and sympathy.
• Synonym人情にんじょうNeutralHuman feelings, what people naturally feel, as in 「人情味」; 「情け」 zeroes in on compassion toward a particular person.
• Related哀れみあわれみNeutralPity or sympathy for someone's misfortune, as in 「哀れみの目」; 「情け」 is broader, adding human warmth and special consideration.
• Related不憫ふびんWrittenA written/formal na-adjective meaning pitiable, heart-rending, as in 「不憫に思う」; 「情け」 is the compassionate feeling itself that you extend.
• Related惻隠の情そくいんのじょうWrittenA set phrase for the compassion stirred by another's suffering; literary, with a classical flavor. 「情け」 is more colloquial and everyday.
• Related情け容赦なさけようしゃNeutralMostly in the negative 「情け容赦なく」, showing no mercy; when you mean mercy or leniency on its own, use 「情け」.
• Related恕じょWrittenA written word for sympathy that takes another's position into account; rare, mostly in Confucian contexts. In daily speech say 「思いやり」.
• Antonym無情むじょうNeutralColdheartedness — the opposite of warm, humane 「情け」, as in 「無情な仕打ち」.
• Antonym残酷ざんこくNeutralCruelty; the opposite of merciful 「情け」, stressing harsh methods that inflict suffering.

Use 「情け」 for human warmth and compassion toward the weak, as in 「情けをかける」. Say 「慈悲」 for mercy, 「思いやり」 for consideration, 「人情」 for human feelings, and 「無情」 for coldheartedness.

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

1. 他人たにんに同情どうじょうし労いたわる心こころ。
2. （ときに「おなさけ」の形かたちで）敗者はいしゃや能力のうりょく不足ふそくの者ものなどに対たいする特別とくべつな配慮はいりょ。恩情おんじょう。
3. 男女だんじょの情愛じょうあい。