# 惨 wretched

(leftheart) + 参 (admit defeat / visit)
★★☆☆☆
11 strokes

## Onyomi

SAN, ZAN |

## Mnemonic

| SANta claus's heart admits defeat when tarZAN breaks up with him (for good this time). He feels wretched!

## Kunyomi

みじ*め ( な ) | pathetic. Unlike the related term 哀れ(あわれ),　惨め is a pretty un-sympathetic word you use for some poor schmuck who is in a wretched state but, you know, you couldn’t imagine them ever being happy anyway. ★☆☆☆☆

## Jukugo

惨事(さんじ) | tragedy ★☆☆☆☆ 惨 (wretched) + 事 (action/ incident) = 惨事 (tragedy) a tragedy (BOOBOO: not as in a sad play, but as in someone's sister died while giving birth. A dramatic tragedy is 悲劇　（ひげき） )
悲惨(ひさん) な | terrible ☆☆☆☆☆ 悲 (sad) + 惨 (wretched) = 悲惨 ( terrible) terrible, harrowing, tragic. Usually used not about a single person’s misfortune but like the tragic cost of war, the terrible catastrophe that befell the small town in Godzilla’s path, etc.

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
修 | master a skill | PERSON | 人
参 | admit defeat / visit | MOOCOW | ム
惨 | wretched | HEART | 心

The PERSON is a master at making shoes,

but the MOOCOW defeats you.

The wretched HEART is singing the blues.

## Synonyms

pathos, misery, pitifulness かわいいそうな 哀れな 惨めな 哀愁 心細い 悲惨な