可怜
Old HSK 4
可怜 (kělián) · pitiful
可怜 (kělián) means “pitiful; poor; to pity”. It is written with 2 characters: 可 (but) + 怜 (to pity). It is an old HSK 4 word (HSK 2.0).
How 可怜 is built
The characters
可 kě · but
What 可 is made of
- 丁dīng — male adult
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 冂 — frame
Origin hint: 丁 gives the meaning, 口 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
怜 lián · to pity
What 怜 is made of
- 忄xīn — heart
- 八bā — eight
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 令lìng — command
- 人rén — person
Example sentences
这只小猫真可怜。Zhè zhī xiǎomāo zhēn kělián.This kitten is so pitiful.
你不可怜他吗？Nǐ bù kělián tā ma?Don't you feel sorry for him?
Questions about 可怜
What does 可怜 mean?
可怜 (kělián) means “pitiful; poor; to pity”.
How do you pronounce 可怜?
可怜 is pronounced kělián.
Which HSK level is 可怜?
可怜 is in Old HSK 4.
Related words
- 可爱kě'àicute
- 可能kěnéngmaybe
- 可怕kěpàscary
- 可是kěshìbut
- 可以kěyǐcan
- 可靠kěkàoreliable
- 可乐kělècola
- 认可rènkěto approve
- 可见kějiànit is clear that
- 可惜kěxīit's a pity
Learn 可怜 with its group
It is part of Old HSK 4 · Group 26: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.