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可怜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
可怜
kělián
pitiful
HSK 6, v, 13 strokes, rank #903, Hard
可怜
kělián
pathetic
HSK 6, v, 13 strokes, rank #903, Hard
可怜
kělián
to have pity on
HSK 6, v, 13 strokes, rank #903, Hard
kělián(ke3lian2)ke lian T3
1pitiful
2pathetic
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March 24, 2026
可怜(可憐)kělián(ke3lian2)
The term '可怜' (kě lián) describes something or someone that evokes feelings of pity or sympathy. It can be used in various contexts, such as referring to a person in unfortunate circumstances or a sad situation that stirs compassion. The nuance often implies a sense of vulnerability or helplessness.
Strokes13Frequency#903DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, showing pity often comes with a sense of responsibility towards others, reflecting collectivist values. The concept of '可怜' can also be tied to traditional narratives in literature where characters endure hardships, evoking compassion from readers.
Memory tip
Imagine a kitten (小猫) with big, sad eyes that makes you feel pity. The character '可' (kě) looks like an open mouth, as if saying 'oh no!' while '怜' (lián) has a heart shape in the middle, indicating feelings of love and compassion. Together, they symbolize the reaction of seeing something pitiful.
Meanings of 可怜
kělián(ke3lian2)
1pitiful
2pathetic
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About 可怜
可怜Simplified
可憐Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#903Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 可怜
Podcast: 可怜
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AI study notes for 可怜
Quick Contrast
可怜 (kělián) vs 可悲 (kěbēi) — use 可怜 for evoking sympathy, while 可悲 implies a sense of sorrow without the same focus on vulnerability.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to use '可怜' in overly formal contexts, as it can sound condescending. Common collocations include '可怜的孩子' (the pitiful child) or '我很可怜' (I am very pitiful). A common mistake is to confuse it with '可爱' (kě ài), which means cute, leading to unintended meanings.
HSK Study Tips
'可怜' is a Level 4 HSK vocabulary word that connects well with other words expressing emotions or descriptions of people and situations. Focus on using it in sentences to describe feelings of sympathy, as this will enhance your emotional vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use '可怜' to describe something that is merely sad or disappointing without a sense of sympathy, such as saying '这部电影很可怜' (This movie is very pitiful) when they mean it is bad. The correct context should involve evoking pity for someone or something truly deserving of compassion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 可怜
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The term '可怜' (kě lián) describes something or someone that evokes feelings of pity or sympathy. It can be used in various contexts, such as referring to a person in unfortunate circumstances or a sad situation that stirs compassion. The nuance often implies a sense of vulnerability or helplessness.
When to use 可怜
Be careful not to use '可怜' in overly formal contexts, as it can sound condescending. Common collocations include '可怜的孩子' (the pitiful child) or '我很可怜' (I am very pitiful). A common mistake is to confuse it with '可爱' (kě ài), which means cute, leading to unintended meanings.
可怜 or something close to it
可怜 (kělián) vs 可悲 (kěbēi) — use 可怜 for evoking sympathy, while 可悲 implies a sense of sorrow without the same focus on vulnerability.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use '可怜' to describe something that is merely sad or disappointing without a sense of sympathy, such as saying '这部电影很可怜' (This movie is very pitiful) when they mean it is bad. The correct context should involve evoking pity for someone or something truly deserving of compassion.
Write 可怜
可
怜
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Grammar patterns of 可怜
可怜 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
