# 哀 — pity; sorrow

哀 means “pity; sorrow”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 9 strokes. On'yomi: アイ (ai). Kun'yomi: あわ(れ) (aware). You'll see it in words such as 哀れ (aware, “pity; sorrow”).

- Meaning: pity; sorrow
- On'yomi: アイ (ai)
- Kun'yomi: あわ(れ) (aware)
- Strokes: 9
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Feelings 4

## How to remember 哀

Parts: 衣 garment · 口 mouth; box

## Words with 哀

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 哀れ | あわれ (aware) | pity; sorrow |
| 哀れむ | あわれむ (awaremu) | to pity; to feel sympathy for |

## Don't confuse it with

[衣](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/garment/) · [喪](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/mourning/) · [京](https://moji.ninja/n4-kanji/capital/) · [依](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/depend-on/)

## More in the “Feelings 4” set

[謙](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/humble/) · [嘆](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/sigh/) · [寂](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/lonely/) · [憂](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/melancholy/) · [惜](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/begrudge/) · [憾](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/remorse/) · [忍](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/put-up-with/) · [怠](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/lazy/) · [哀](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/pity/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/pity/. Last updated 2026-11-01.