哀 — “Pathetic / Grief / Sorrow / Pathos” in Japanese

Master (高手)あい, あわ, かな

Radical ⼝ · radical 30 The building block this kanji is filed under

“Pathetic / Grief / Sorrow / Pathos” in Japanese is 哀, read ai, awa, kana (あい, あわ, かな). It is a Jōyō kanji taught in Japanese secondary school (junior & senior high) — the 高手 · Master tier beyond the grade 1–6 Kyōiku set, and appears in words such as 哀愁 (sorrow).

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What does 哀 mean?

Full details, readings & example

Kanji	哀
Meaning	Pathetic / Grief / Sorrow / Pathos
Readings	あい, あわ, かな
Grade	Master (高手 · secondary school)
Curriculum	Jōyō kanji · Japanese secondary school (JLPT N1–N2)
Example	哀愁 (sorrow)

How to read 哀

哀 is read ai (あい) or awa (あわ) or kana (かな) depending on the word.

Words with 哀

哀悼
哀愁

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Kanji read the same way as 哀

Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:

Updated: 2026-08-28