可怜

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可怜 [2025/08/03 23:55] – created xiaoer可怜 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== kělián: 可怜 - Pitiful, Poor, Wretched ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** kelian, kělián, 可怜, pity in Chinese, pitiful in Chinese, how to say poor thing in Chinese, pathetic Chinese, wretched Chinese, Chinese word for sympathy, what does kelian mean +
-  * **Summary:** Learn the Chinese word **可怜 (kělián)**, a versatile term used to describe someone or something as "pitiful," "poor," or "wretched." This comprehensive guide explores its dual meaning, from expressing genuine sympathy for a stray animal to conveying a sense of scorn or condescension, similar to calling someone "pathetic." Discover how to use **可怜 (kělián)** correctly in conversations, understand its cultural nuances, and avoid common mistakes made by Mandarin learners. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** kělián +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective / Verb +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** To be pitiful or wretched; to have pity on someone. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **可怜 (kělián)** is the most common way to express pity in Chinese. It's used to describe a person, animal, or situation that makes you feel sad and sympathetic. Think of the feeling you get when you see a lost puppy in the rain—that's a classic **可怜** situation. However, be aware that it can also carry a negative, condescending tone, implying that someone is pathetic or contemptible. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **可 (kě):** This character means "can," "able to," or "worthy of." It often functions as a prefix to create words meaning "-able," like in [[可爱]] (kě'ài - lovable/cute). +
-  * **怜 (lián):** This character means "to pity," "to have compassion for," or "to feel tenderly towards." +
-  * The two characters combine literally to mean "pity-able" or "worthy of pity," which perfectly encapsulates the core meaning of the word. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-In Chinese culture, expressing pity can be a sign of genuine compassion (a virtue related to the Buddhist concept of [[慈悲]] (cíbēi)). Showing concern for the less fortunate is highly valued. +
-However, the act of pitying someone inherently creates a social dynamic where one person is in a position of strength or fortune, looking down upon another who is suffering. This is where **可怜 (kělián)** differs from the Western idea of "empathy." While you can feel **可怜** for a friend, using the word can sometimes subtly reinforce a hierarchy. +
-This dual nature is captured perfectly in the famous proverb: **可怜之人必有可恨之处 (kělián zhī rén bì yǒu kěhèn zhī chù)**, which translates to "A pitiful person must have a detestable side." This reflects a common cultural belief that deep misfortune is often not random, but linked to a person's own flaws or poor decisions. It injects a layer of judgment into the concept of pity that is much stronger than in Western cultures. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-**可怜 (kělián)** is an extremely common word used in various contexts: +
-  * **Expressing Genuine Sympathy:** This is its most frequent use, especially towards children, animals, the elderly, or victims of unfortunate circumstances. It's an expression of a soft heart. +
-    * //"That child lost his parents, how pitiful!"// (那孩子失去了父母，太**可怜**了！) +
-  * **Describing a Wretched State:** It can be used to describe a person's miserable condition or a paltry amount of something. +
-    * //"He lives in a tiny, dark room. His living conditions are truly wretched."// +
-    * //"I only earn a pitiful amount of salary each month."// (我每个月只挣一点**可怜**的工资。) +
-  * **As a Verb (To Pity):** You can use it as a verb, as in "I pity you" (我**可怜**你). **BE CAREFUL:** This is often condescending or even insulting. It implies "I'm in a better position than you, and I look down on your pathetic situation." It's rarely used to express genuine sympathy directly to someone's face. +
-  * **Self-Deprecation:** People often use **可怜** humorously to describe themselves, especially in the context of work or minor struggles. +
-    * //"Look at us, a bunch of poor souls working overtime again."// (你看我们这些**可怜**的上班族，又要加班了。) +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 这只流浪猫又瘦又脏，真**可怜**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè zhī liúlàng māo yòu shòu yòu zāng, zhēn **kělián**. +
-    * English: This stray cat is so skinny and dirty, it's really pitiful. +
-    * Analysis: A classic, straightforward use of **可怜** to express simple sympathy for an animal. The tone here is purely compassionate. +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * 他父母双亡，从小就是个孤儿，**可怜**极了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā fùmǔ shuāngwáng, cóngxiǎo jiùshì ge gū'ér, **kělián** jíle. +
-    * English: Both of his parents passed away; he's been an orphan since he was young, which is extremely sad/pitiful. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **可怜** expresses deep sympathy for someone's tragic life circumstances. 极了 (jíle) means "extremely" and intensifies the adjective. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 你看看我，一个月就这么点**可怜**的工资，怎么够花？ +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ kànkan wǒ, yí ge yuè jiù zhème diǎn **kělián** de gōngzī, zěnme gòu huā? +
-    * English: Look at me, with just this pitiful little salary for a month, how is it enough to spend? +
-    * Analysis: **可怜** is used here to describe an amount as "pitifully small" or "meager." It's a common way to complain about salary, resources, etc. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 你不用**可怜**我，我自己能解决问题。 +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ búyòng **kělián** wǒ, wǒ zìjǐ néng jiějué wèntí. +
-    * English: You don't need to pity me; I can solve the problem myself. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence shows the negative connotation. The speaker is rejecting the other person's pity, viewing it as condescending and unwanted. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 别再为他找借口了，真是**可怜**之人必有可恨之处。 +
-    * Pinyin: Bié zài wèi tā zhǎo jièkǒu le, zhēnshi **kělián** zhī rén bì yǒu kěhèn zhī chù. +
-    * English: Stop making excuses for him. It's true that a pitiful person must have a detestable side. +
-    * Analysis: This showcases the famous proverb. It's used to pass judgment, suggesting that the person's misfortune is their own fault. +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 小女孩找不到妈妈了，**可怜**地哭了起来。 +
-    * Pinyin: Xiǎo nǚhái zhǎo bu dào māma le, **kělián** de kū le qǐlái. +
-    * English: The little girl couldn't find her mom and started to cry pitifully. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **可怜** is used as an adverb (可怜地) to describe the manner of an action (crying). It emphasizes the heart-wrenching nature of the crying. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * 他那么努力，最后还是失败了，想想也挺**可怜**的。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā nàme nǔlì, zuìhòu háishì shībài le, xiǎngxiang yě tǐng **kělián** de. +
-    * English: He worked so hard, but still failed in the end. When you think about it, it's quite sad/pitiful. +
-    * Analysis: This expresses sympathy for someone's failed efforts. The tone is gentle and sad, not judgmental. +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 我最**可怜**这个故事里的反派角色，他的童年太惨了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ zuì **kělián** zhège gùshi lǐ de fǎnpài juésè, tā de tóngnián tài cǎn le. +
-    * English: I pity the villain in this story the most; his childhood was too tragic. +
-    * Analysis: Using **可怜** as a verb. In this context (talking about a fictional character), it's safe and doesn't sound condescending. It simply means "to feel the most pity for." +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 为了一个项目，我们连续加班一周，真是一群**可怜**虫。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wèile yí ge xiàngmù, wǒmen liánxù jiābān yì zhōu, zhēnshi yì qún **kělián**chóng. +
-    * English: For one project, we worked overtime for a week straight. We're really a bunch of poor creatures. +
-    * Analysis: This uses the related noun [[可怜虫]] (kěliánchóng - pitiful bug/creature) in a self-deprecating, humorous way among colleagues. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 他到了这个年纪还不懂事，真是又**可怜**又可悲。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā dào le zhège niánjì hái bù dǒngshì, zhēnshi yòu **kělián** yòu kěbēi. +
-    * English: He's reached this age and still isn't sensible; it's both pitiful and pathetic. +
-    * Analysis: This example pairs **可怜** with [[可悲]] (kěbēi - pathetic/lamentable) to express strong negative judgment. The tone is one of scorn and disappointment. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **可怜 (kělián) vs. 同情 (tóngqíng):** This is the most critical distinction. +
-    * **可怜 (kělián)** is "pity." It often implies a power imbalance (I'm okay, you're not). It can sound condescending. +
-    * **同情 (tóngqíng)** is "sympathy." It means "same feeling" and implies you understand and share their feeling on a more equal level. +
-    * **Mistake:** Saying "我可怜你" (Wǒ kělián nǐ) to comfort a friend. +
-    * **Correction:** Say "我**同情**你的遭遇" (Wǒ tóngqíng nǐ de zāoyù - I sympathize with your experience) or simply "你太不容易了" (Nǐ tài bù róngyì le - It's been so hard for you). +
-  * **The Insulting Side of "Pity":** Never underestimate the condescending power of **可怜**. Directly telling someone you pity them can be a major insult, like calling them pathetic. It's much safer to use when talking //about// a third party, an animal, or a situation. +
-  * **Describing Objects/Skills:** Learners might try to say "My Chinese is pitiful" (我的中文很可怜). This is grammatically awkward. **可怜** is almost always used for living beings and their circumstances. +
-    * **Correction:** To describe poor quality or skill level, use [[差]] (chà - bad, lacking) or [[糟糕]] (zāogāo - terrible). For example: "我的中文很**差**" (Wǒ de Zhōngwén hěn **chà**). +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * [[同情]] (tóngqíng) - Sympathy. The feeling of understanding someone's hardship on an equal footing. Less condescending than `可怜`. +
-  * [[心疼]] (xīnténg) - Literally "heart-ache." A deep, affectionate form of pity reserved for loved ones, like a mother seeing her child fall down. It combines "pity" with "love" and a desire to protect. +
-  * [[可悲]] (kěbēi) - Pathetic, lamentable. Stronger and more judgmental than `可怜`. It often refers to a sad situation caused by foolishness or moral failure. +
-  * [[可怜虫]] (kěliánchóng) - "Pitiful bug/creature." An insult for a pathetic person, or used humorously for self-deprecation. +
-  * [[惋惜]] (wǎnxī) - To feel regretful or sorry about a loss or an unfortunate outcome. Used for situations like "It's a pity he didn't win" or "I regret that such a talent was wasted." +
-  * [[慈悲]] (cíbēi) - Compassion, mercy. A deep, profound virtue, often with Buddhist connotations. It's a more formal and philosophical term than `可怜`. +
-  * [[可恨]] (kěhèn) - Hateful, detestable. The conceptual opposite of `可怜` and its partner in the famous proverb.+