残念

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 残念(ざんねん) describes disappointment or regret when something differs from one's hopes.
• Basic usage: 残念です states disappointment; 残念な結果 shows the form with な used to modify a noun.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 残念ながら
  • 残念ながら adds 'unfortunately' when introducing unwelcome news.
  • Here, ながら does not mean two actions happening at the same time.
• Sadness and disappointment
  • 悲しい(かなしい) focuses on sadness; 残念 focuses on disappointment that something hoped for did not happen.