English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com

可怜 — meaning in English

kě lián

Chinese → English · translate English → Chinese instead

English meaning

  • indigent adj Very poor; lacking the basic resources needed to live.
  • pathetic adj Arousing pity or sadness.
  • poor adj Having little money or few possessions.
  • prong noun A thin, pointed, projecting part, as of an antler or a fork or similar tool.
  • sorry adj Feeling regret or wanting to apologize for something one did.

Senses

可怜 is used for these senses in English:

  • indigent Poor; destitute; in need.
  • pathetic Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.
  • poor thing Someone or something to be pitied
  • prong (sometimes, figurative) A branch; a fork.
  • sorry Poor, pitifully sad or regrettable.

indigent — full definition

  1. adj Very poor; lacking the basic resources needed to live.
  2. noun A person who is very poor.

pathetic — full definition

  1. adj Arousing pity or sadness.
  2. adj So inadequate or feeble as to be contemptible.

Related Chinese words