# 惨 — wretched; cruel

惨 means “wretched; cruel”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 11 strokes. On'yomi: サン (san), ザン (zan). Kun'yomi: みじ(め) (mijime). You'll see it in words such as 惨め (mijime, “miserable; wretched”).

- Meaning: wretched; cruel
- On'yomi: サン (san), ザン (zan)
- Kun'yomi: みじ(め) (mijime)
- Strokes: 11
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Feelings 3

## How to remember 惨

Sounds like 参: both read サン.

Parts: 忄 heart · 参 participate

## Words with 惨

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 惨め | みじめ (mijime) | miserable; wretched |

## Don't confuse it with

[参](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/participate/)

## More in the “Feelings 3” set

[朗](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/melodious/) · [寛](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/lenient/) · [貞](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/upright/) · [恩](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/kindness/) · [狂](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/crazed/) · [悔](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/regret/) · [惨](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/wretched/) · [懐](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/nostalgic/) · [奮](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/stirred-up/)

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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/wretched/. Last updated 2026-11-01.