可怜 kělián pitiful
pitiful; poor; pathetic
How to remember 可怜: 可 may + 怜 to pity = pitiful.
Characters
How it is used
- Adjective: pitiful/pathetic - 那孩子真可怜 (nà háizi zhēn kělián) that child is so pitiable.
- Also a transitive verb, to pity/take pity on - 没人可怜他 (méi rén kělián tā) no one pities him.
- Third use: pitifully little - 少得可怜 (shǎo de kělián) pitifully few, an intensifier for scarcity.
Example sentences
- 他很可怜。 Tā hěn kělián.He is very pitiful.
- 她照顾可怜的小鸟。 Tā zhàogù kělián de xiǎoniǎo.She took care of the poor little bird.