kěxī: 可惜 - It's a pity, Unfortunately, What a shame

• Keywords: kexi, 可惜, Chinese for pity, what a shame in Chinese, unfortunately in Chinese, Chinese regret, how to say it's a pity, Chinese language, learn Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the true meaning of 可惜 (kěxī), a common Chinese word used to express “it's a pity” or “what a shame.” This page breaks down its cultural nuances, showing how it's different from the English “pity” and more about regretting a missed opportunity or unfortunate situation. With 10 practical example sentences, character analysis, and common mistakes to avoid, you'll master how to use 可惜 (kěxī) to express gentle regret in everyday conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kěxī
• Part of Speech: Adjective / Adverb / Interjection
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: It is regrettable or unfortunate that something desirable did not happen.
• In a Nutshell: 可惜 (kěxī) is the sigh you let out when something good almost happened but didn't. It’s the feeling of looking at a missed goal in a soccer match, a beautiful dress that's too expensive, or a friend who couldn't make it to the party. It’s not about feeling sorry for a person (pity), but feeling sorry about a situation. Think of it as “what a shame” or “too bad.”

• 可 (kě): This character means “can,” “able to,” or “worthy of.” It suggests potential or value.
• 惜 (xī): This character means “to cherish,” “to value,” or “to regret the loss of something.” It is composed of the heart radical (忄) on the left and a phonetic component (昔) on the right, signifying a feeling from the heart related to something past or cherished.

When combined, 可惜 (kěxī) literally means “worthy of cherishing but lost” or “worthy of regret.” This perfectly captures the feeling of acknowledging the value of something that you can no longer have or that didn't come to fruition.

In Chinese culture, expressing disappointment is often done with a degree of subtlety and restraint. 可惜 (kěxī) is a perfect embodiment of this. It's a gentle, almost philosophical acknowledgment of life's imperfections and missed opportunities. It allows people to share a moment of mutual, low-key disappointment without being overly dramatic or emotional. A key cultural comparison is with the English word “pity.” In English, saying “I pity you” can sound condescending, as if you are looking down on someone from a superior position. 可惜 (kěxī) is almost never used this way. It is directed at the circumstance, not the person. When a friend says they missed their flight, you say, “太可惜了!” (Tài kěxī le! - “That's such a shame!”). You are commiserating with them about the situation, not pitying their incompetence. This aligns with cultural values of maintaining harmony and giving “face” (面子 miànzi) by not placing blame on the individual.

可惜 (kěxī) is an extremely common word used in all registers of spoken Mandarin.

• As a standalone exclamation: When you hear some unfortunate news, a simple “可惜!” (Kěxī!) or “真可惜!” (Zhēn kěxī! - “Really a shame!”) is a perfect response.
• At the beginning of a sentence (as an adverb): It functions like “Unfortunately,” or “It's a pity that…”. For example: “可惜，我们去晚了，电影票都卖完了。” (Kěxī, wǒmen qù wǎn le, diànyǐngpiào dōu mài wán le. - “Unfortunately, we went too late and the movie tickets were all sold out.”)
• In the middle of a sentence (as an adjective): It's often used to connect two contrasting clauses. “这个手机功能很多，可惜电池不太好。” (Zhège shǒujī gōngnéng hěn duō, kěxī diànchí bú tài hǎo. - “This phone has many features, it's just a shame the battery isn't very good.”)

• Example 1:
  • 他考了第二名，真可惜。
  • Pinyin: Tā kǎo le dì-èr míng, zhēn kěxī.
  • English: He got second place, what a real shame.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use of 可惜. It acknowledges the great achievement (second place is excellent) but laments the fact that it wasn't first place. It expresses gentle disappointment about the near miss.
• Example 2:
  • 这件衣服很漂亮，可惜我没有足够的钱。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn piàoliang, kěxī wǒ méiyǒu zúgòu de qián.
  • English: This dress is very beautiful, unfortunately I don't have enough money.
  • Analysis: Here, 可惜 connects a positive observation (“beautiful dress”) with a negative reality (“not enough money”), perfectly translating to “it's a shame that…” or “too bad that…”.
• Example 3:
  • 可惜你没能来参加我们的派对，非常好玩。
  • Pinyin: Kěxī nǐ méi néng lái cānjiā wǒmen de pàiduì, fēicháng hǎowán.
  • English: It's a pity you couldn't come to our party, it was a lot of fun.
  • Analysis: Used at the beginning of the sentence, 可惜 sets a regretful tone. It tells the listener that they were missed and that they missed out on something good.
• Example 4:
  • 我们差点就赢了，太可惜了！
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen chàdiǎn jiù yíng le, tài kěxī le!
  • English: We almost won, what a huge shame!
  • Analysis: The combination 太 (tài) + 可惜 + 了 (le) is extremely common and is used to amplify the feeling of regret. It's a very natural, emotional exclamation.
• Example 5:
  • 他是个很有才华的艺术家，可惜英年早逝。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì ge hěn yǒu cáihuá de yìshùjiā, kěxī yīngniánzǎoshì.
  • English: He was a very talented artist, it's a shame he died so young.
  • Analysis: This example shows 可惜 being used in a more serious, formal context. It laments the loss of potential. 英年早逝 (yīngniánzǎoshì) is a set phrase for “to die young.”
• Example 6:
  • 这个想法很好，可惜不太实际。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiǎngfǎ hěn hǎo, kěxī bú tài shíjì.
  • English: This idea is very good, it's just a pity that it's not very practical.
  • Analysis: A common phrase in business or academic settings. It softens the criticism by first acknowledging the merit of the idea before pointing out its flaw.
• Example 7:
  • 我本来想去留学，可惜父母不同意。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ běnlái xiǎng qù liúxué, kěxī fùmǔ bù tóngyì.
  • English: I originally wanted to study abroad, but unfortunately my parents didn't agree.
  • Analysis: This sentence expresses personal regret over a path not taken due to external circumstances.
• Example 8:
  • 这么好的天气，可惜我要加班。
  • Pinyin: Zhème hǎo de tiānqì, kěxī wǒ yào jiābān.
  • English: Such nice weather, and it's a shame I have to work overtime.
  • Analysis: This highlights the unfortunate contrast between a desirable situation (good weather) and a conflicting obligation (work).
• Example 9:
  • 你把这么好的机会浪费了，不觉得可惜吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bǎ zhème hǎo de jīhuì làngfèi le, bù juéde kěxī ma?
  • English: You wasted such a good opportunity, don't you think that's a shame?
  • Analysis: Here, 可惜 is used in a question to gently rebuke someone, prompting them to reflect on their actions.
• Example 10:
  • 可惜的是，我们最后还是分手了。
  • Pinyin: Kěxī de shì, wǒmen zuìhòu háishì fēnshǒu le.
  • English: The regrettable thing is, we still broke up in the end.
  • Analysis: The structure “可惜的是…” (kěxī de shì…) means “The regrettable thing is…” or “What's a shame is…”. It's a common way to introduce a disappointing outcome.

• False Friend Alert: 可惜 (kěxī) vs. “Pity” (可怜 kělián)
  • The most common mistake for English speakers is to confuse 可惜 (kěxī) with 可怜 (kělián).
  • 可惜 (kěxī) is about a situation: “It's a shame the team lost.” (球队输了，真可惜。)
  • 可怜 (kělián) is about a person or creature: “That homeless dog looks so pitiful.” (那只流浪狗看起来很可怜。)
  • Incorrect: 你没通过考试，我真可惜你。(Nǐ méi tōngguò kǎoshì, wǒ zhēn kěxī nǐ.) This is wrong. You are not “pitying” the person.
  • Correct: 你没通过考试，真可惜。(Nǐ méi tōngguò kǎoshì, zhēn kěxī.) “You didn't pass the test, what a shame.” (You are lamenting the situation).
  • Correct: 你没钱吃饭，真可怜。(Nǐ méi qián chīfàn, zhēn kělián.) “You have no money for food, how pitiful.” (You are expressing pity for the person's state).

• 可怜 (kělián) - To be pitiful; to pity someone. This describes a person's miserable state, whereas 可惜 describes a regrettable situation.
• 遗憾 (yíhàn) - Regret; deep regret. 遗憾 is stronger, more personal, and more formal than 可惜. It refers to a deep sense of regret over a major life event (e.g., not telling someone you loved them). 可惜 is for everyday disappointments.
• 珍惜 (zhēnxī) - To cherish; to value; to treasure. This is the positive action one should take to avoid future situations of 可惜. “You should cherish this opportunity.” (你应该珍惜这个机会。)
• 浪费 (làngfèi) - To waste. A situation is often 可惜 because something valuable (time, food, opportunity) was 浪费.
• 倒霉 (dǎoméi) - To have bad luck. This focuses on misfortune or bad luck as the cause, while 可惜 focuses on the disappointing outcome itself.
• 哎呀 (āiyā) - An interjection of surprise or dismay. It's often used right before or after 可惜. “哎呀，真可惜！” (Āiyā, zhēn kěxī!)