哀れむ

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 哀れむ (あわれむ) is a transitive verb meaning to pity or sympathize with someone.
• Basic usage: 相手を哀れむだけ limits the response to pity; 子どもを哀れんだ reports sympathy for an orphaned child.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Limitation by だけ and past 哀れんだ
  • The person takes を. だけ stresses that pity alone is insufficient, and む changes to んだ in the past.