Usage of 可怜 (kělián)
Core Meaning
可怜 primarily means 'pitiful' or 'to be pitied.' It is used to express sympathy or compassion towards someone or something suffering or in a poor state.
Emotional Tone
When you say something or someone is 可怜, you often imply a sense of sadness or sympathy. It can describe living beings, like people or animals, but also situations or things that are disappointing or inadequate.
Common Collocations
- 可怜的小孩 (pitiful child): emphasizes sympathy for a vulnerable person.
- 成绩可怜 (pitiful grades): describes very poor quality or quantity.
- 看起来可怜 (looks pitiful): used to express an appearance that evokes sympathy.
Usage Notes
可怜 can describe both emotional states and objective conditions (like poor quality). Avoid confusing it with 可爱 (cute), which sounds similar but means 'adorable.'
Register
This word is neutral and common in both spoken and written Chinese. It can be used in casual conversation and formal contexts when expressing pity or describing poor conditions.