WORD DETAIL
悲哀
ひあい
Examples
Included kanji
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
悲哀(ひあい)is a literary term for sorrow arising from parting or the circumstances of life. - Basic usage: It describes the sorrow of parting coming through in a singing voice.
彼の歌声には、別れの悲哀がにじんでいた。
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Everyday and literary wording
悲しみ(かなしみ)broadly means sadness.悲哀suits a more literary tone, such as a description of a song, a story, or a person's life.
- Emotion conveyed through expression
悲哀がにじむdescribes sorrow showing through in a voice or expression.悲哀を描くmeans to portray that sorrow in a work.

