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How to say 'Lonely' in Japanese | 寂しい

Wondering how to say 'Lonely' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Lonely is 'Sabishii', written as 寂しい in Japanese.'Lonely' in hiragana is さびしい.

    Meaning

    Lonely

    Reading

    さびしい

    sabishii

    Kanji

    Quietly, Lonely

    Explanation

    The Japanese adjective '寂しい (さびしい)' primarily means 'lonely' or 'lonesome'. It is used to describe a feeling of sadness due to a lack of companionship or a sense of emptiness. This word can also convey a sense of desolation or melancholy, often in relation to places or situations that feel abandoned or quiet. For example: I feel lonely without you「あなたがいなくて寂しい」(あなたがいなくてさびしい). The town was lonely after everyone left「みんなが去った後、町は寂しかった」(みんながさったあと、まちはさびしかった). Note that '寂しい' can sometimes imply a nostalgic longing or a wistful feeling, adding depth to its emotional context.

    Part Of Speech

    adjective

    Kanji JLPT

    N1

    Kanji Grade

    7

    Frequency

    1939

    Composition

    kanji-hiragana

    Handwriting

This word is an i-adjective. To learn how it transforms in different tenses and forms, explore all its conjugations.

Kanji in the Word 寂しい

This word contains 1 kanji character:

  • kanji

    Meaning

    Quietly, Lonely

Hiragana in the Word 寂しい

This word contains 2 Hiragana characters :

  • hiragana

    Reading

    Shi
  • hiragana

    Reading

    I

Learn the Word 寂しい

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What does 'Sabishii' (寂しい) mean?

'Sabishii' means 'Lonely' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.