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-====== wǎnxī: 惋惜 - To Feel Pity For, To Lament, What a Shame ======
-===== Quick Summary =====
-  * **Keywords:** wǎnxī, 惋惜, what a pity, what a shame, to feel sorry for, to regret, lament in Chinese, Chinese word for pity, HSK 5 vocabulary, 可惜 vs 惋惜, Chinese emotions.
-  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and use of **惋惜 (wǎnxī)**, a powerful Chinese word used to express a deep sense of regret or pity for a lost opportunity, a tragic event, or wasted potential. More than just "what a shame," **惋惜** conveys a heartfelt lament for what could have been. This guide breaks down its cultural context, practical usage, and distinguishes it from similar words like 可惜 (kěxī) and 后悔 (hòuhuǐ), helping you master this essential HSK 5 term.
-===== Core Meaning =====
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** wǎn xī
-  * **Part of Speech:** Verb / Adjective
-  * **HSK Level:** 5
-  * **Concise Definition:** To feel regret or pity over an unfortunate loss or a situation that did not turn out as hoped.
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **惋惜** is the feeling you get when you hear about something truly unfortunate and can't help but sigh, "what a waste" or "what a pity." It’s not a condescending pity, but a sincere, shared sadness. Think of a brilliant student who had to drop out of school, a promising project that was cancelled, or a talented athlete whose career was cut short by injury. **惋惜** is the perfect word to express your lament for that lost potential.
-===== Character Breakdown =====
-  * **惋 (wǎn):** This character is all about emotion. The left side is the "heart" radical (忄, a variant of 心), which signals that the meaning is related to feelings. The right side, 宛 (wǎn), provides the sound. 惋 means to regret or to be sorrowful.
-  * **惜 (xī):** This character also contains the "heart" radical (心) at the bottom. The top part, 昔 (xī), means "past" or "former times." So, 惜 is a feeling related to the past—specifically, the feeling of cherishing something and regretting its loss.
-  * When combined, **惋惜 (wǎnxī)** creates a powerful, layered term. Both characters point to a deep feeling in one's heart (心). It's a sorrowful (惋) feeling about the loss of something you once cherished (惜) or something valuable that is now gone.
-===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
-In Chinese culture, there's a strong emphasis on realizing one's potential and cherishing opportunities. **惋惜** taps directly into this value. It's frequently used to mourn "what could have been," reflecting a collective sigh over unfulfilled promise. This could be for a person, a historical event, or even a local landmark.
-A useful Western comparison is the phrase "it's a crying shame," but **惋惜** is often more formal and carries a greater weight of sincere empathy. While "what a pity" can sometimes be used for trivial matters in English (e.g., "Pity you missed the movie"), **惋惜** is almost exclusively reserved for significant situations. It’s less a passing comment and more a shared moment of reflection on misfortune or loss, often tied to the idea of an unfortunate **命运 (mìngyùn)**, or fate. It’s a way of saying, "The world is a lesser place because this good thing was lost."
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
-**惋惜** is a common word used in both formal and informal contexts, but always for situations with some gravity.
-  * **In Formal Settings:** You will often see **惋惜** in news reports, obituaries, or formal statements. For example, a company might issue a statement expressing **惋惜** over a failed partnership, or a news anchor might use it when reporting on the death of a respected public figure.
-  * **In Conversation:** With friends, you might use **惋惜** to talk about a friend who broke up with a great partner, or a sports team that lost a championship game by a narrow margin. It shows deep, sincere sympathy for the situation.
-  * **On Social Media:** Netizens often use **惋惜** or the simpler phrase **太惋惜了 (tài wǎnxī le)** to comment on sad news, like a beloved restaurant closing down or an idol leaving their group. It conveys a shared sense of community loss.
-The connotation is consistently one of sadness, sympathy, and regret for a situation, not a person's character.
-===== Example Sentences =====
-  * **Example 1:**
-    * 他很有才华，却英年早逝，真令人**惋惜**。
-    * Pinyin: Tā hěn yǒu cáihuá, què yīngniánzǎoshì, zhēn lìng rén **wǎnxī**.
-    * English: He was very talented but passed away at a young age; it's truly a great pity.
-    * Analysis: This is a classic use of **惋惜**. It’s used to lament the loss of potential due to an untimely death (英年早逝 - yīngniánzǎoshì).
-  * **Example 2:**
-    * 因为受伤，他错过了奥运会，所有人都为他感到**惋惜**。
-    * Pinyin: Yīnwèi shòushāng, tā cuòguòle Àoyùnhuì, suǒyǒu rén dōu wèi tā gǎndào **wǎnxī**.
-    * English: Because of an injury, he missed the Olympics. Everyone felt it was a great shame for him.
-    * Analysis: Here, **为他感到惋惜 (wèi tā gǎndào wǎnxī)** means "to feel sorry/pity *for* him" in an empathetic way, lamenting his lost opportunity.
-  * **Example 3:**
-    * 他们曾经是那么好的朋友，现在却不说话了，太**惋惜**了。
-    * Pinyin: Tāmen céngjīng shì nàme hǎo de péngyǒu, xiànzài què bù shuōhuà le, tài **wǎnxī** le.
-    * English: They used to be such good friends, but now they don't speak anymore. It's such a pity.
-    * Analysis: This shows **惋惜** used for a non-tragic but still significant loss—the end of a valuable friendship.
-  * **Example 4:**
-    * 我很**惋惜**没能亲眼看到你的毕业典礼。
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ hěn **wǎnxī** méi néng qīnyǎn kàndào nǐ de bìyè diǎnlǐ.
-    * English: I truly regret that I couldn't see your graduation ceremony in person.
-    * Analysis: In this case, **惋惜** is used to express personal regret about missing a significant, positive event in someone else's life.
-  * **Example 5:**
-    * 这是一个令人**惋惜**的决定，但我们必须接受。
-    * Pinyin: Zhè shì yī gè lìng rén **wǎnxī** de juédìng, dàn wǒmen bìxū jiēshòu.
-    * English: This is a regrettable decision, but we have to accept it.
-    * Analysis: Here, **惋惜** is used as an adjective to describe the noun **决定 (juédìng)**, or "decision."
-  * **Example 6:**
-    * 这家有五十年历史的书店关门了，附近的居民都感到非常**惋惜**。
-    * Pinyin: Zhè jiā yǒu wǔshí nián lìshǐ de shūdiàn guānmén le, fùjìn de jūmín dōu gǎndào fēicháng **wǎnxī**.
-    * English: This 50-year-old bookstore closed down; the nearby residents all felt it was a great loss.
-    * Analysis: This demonstrates **惋惜** applied to the loss of a place with cultural or sentimental value.
-  * **Example 7:**
-    * 他那么努力，最后还是失败了，我真为他**惋惜**。
-    * Pinyin: Tā nàme nǔlì, zuìhòu háishì shībài le, wǒ zhēn wèi tā **wǎnxī**.
-    * English: He worked so hard and still failed in the end. I really feel bad for him.
-    * Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the effort that was wasted, which is a core trigger for the feeling of **惋惜**.
-  * **Example 8:**
-    * 错失这个千载难逢的机会，他一生都会感到**惋惜**。
-    * Pinyin: Cuòshī zhège qiānzǎinánféng de jīhuì, tā yīshēng dōu huì gǎndào **wǎnxī**.
-    * English: Having missed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he will feel regret for the rest of his life.
-    * Analysis: This shows the long-lasting nature of the feeling. **惋惜** isn't just a fleeting emotion.
-  * **Example 9:**
-    * 公司对这个项目的失败表示**惋惜**。
-    * Pinyin: Gōngsī duì zhège xiàngmù de shībài biǎoshì **wǎnxī**.
-    * English: The company expressed its regret over the failure of this project.
-    * Analysis: A formal, almost business-like usage. **表示惋惜 (biǎoshì wǎnxī)** is a common set phrase meaning "to express regret."
-  * **Example 10:**
-    * A: 我听说小王辞职了。 (Wǒ tīngshuō Xiǎo Wáng cízhí le.) - I heard Little Wang resigned.
-    * B: 是啊，太**惋惜**了！他是我们团队最厉害的工程师。(Shì a, tài **wǎnxī** le! Tā shì wǒmen tuánduì zuì lìhài de gōngchéngshī.) - Yeah, what a huge shame! He was the best engineer on our team.
-    * Analysis: A perfect example of a short, common conversational exchange using **太惋惜了 (tài wǎnxī le)** to express strong feelings about a significant loss.
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
-  * **惋惜 (wǎnxī) vs. 可惜 (kěxī):** This is the most common point of confusion.
-    * **可惜 (kěxī)** is lighter, more common, and can be used for everyday, trivial things. It's a simple "what a pity" or "too bad." (e.g., "It's raining, so we can't have a picnic. 太可惜了! - What a pity!")
-    * **惋惜 (wǎnxī)** is heavier, more formal, and reserved for significant losses (of life, potential, opportunity, relationships, etc.).
-    * **Mistake:** Using **惋惜** for a trivial matter. Saying **太惋惜了!** because you missed your bus would sound overly dramatic and strange. Stick to **可惜** for small disappointments.
-  * **惋惜 (wǎnxī) vs. 后悔 (hòuhuǐ):**
-    * **后悔 (hòuhuǐ)** means "to regret" something //you personally did wrong//. It implies fault, guilt, and a wish to undo your own action. (e.g., "我后悔没听你的建议 - I regret not listening to your advice.")
-    * **惋惜 (wǎnxī)** is about regretting a //situation//, often one that was out of your control or happened to someone else. You feel empathy and sadness about the outcome, not guilt.
-    * **Mistake:** Saying "我很惋惜我说了那些话 (I 'lament' that I said those things)." You should say "我很后悔我说了那些话 (I 'regret' that I said those things)."
-  * **False Friend: "Pity"**
-    * While **惋惜** can be translated as "pity," be careful. In English, "I pity you" can sound condescending. **惋惜** is never condescending. It's a feeling of shared sadness about circumstances, not a judgment of a person's weakness. A better parallel is "to lament" or "to feel it's a great shame."
-===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
-  * [[可惜]] (kěxī) - A lighter, more common synonym meaning "what a pity" or "it's a shame." The everyday version of **惋惜**.
-  * [[遗憾]] (yíhàn) - A sense of regret or a pity that something didn't happen. Often used for unfulfilled personal wishes (e.g., "My biggest regret (遗憾) is not traveling more"). It's more about personal unfulfillment than the external loss felt with **惋惜**.
-  * [[后悔]] (hòuhuǐ) - To regret one's own past actions, implying personal fault or a mistake.
-  * [[痛惜]] (tòngxī) - A much stronger and more emotional version of **惋惜**. It means "to deeply grieve" or "to bitterly lament," and is typically reserved for the tragic death of a highly respected person.
-  * [[哀悼]] (āidào) - To mourn or grieve for the dead. A formal verb used in the context of funerals and memorials.
-  * [[同情]] (tóngqíng) - To sympathize; sympathy. This is feeling sad for someone's current suffering, whereas **惋惜** is feeling sad about a specific loss or unfortunate outcome.
-  * [[命运]] (mìngyùn) - Fate or destiny. The feeling of **惋惜** is often directed at an unfortunate twist of fate.