JLPT N1 · 11 strokes
Kanji 惜: "pity, be sparing of, frugal"
The kanji 惜 means "pity, be sparing of, frugal, stingy, regret". It is written with 11 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N1, read セキ in on'yomi and お.しい, お.しむ in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
セキ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
お.しいお.しむ
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | pity, be sparing of, frugal, stingy, regret |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT level | N1 |
| Taught in Japan | secondary school |
| Frequency rank | 1641 of 2,501 |
Common words with 惜
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 惜しいregrettable; disappointing; unfortunate · precious; dear; valuable
- 惜しむto spare; to grudge; to be sparing (with); to be frugal · to regret; to lament
- 名残惜しいreluctant (to part)
- 負け惜しみbeing a poor loser; unwillingness to admit defeat; sour grapes
- 惜しみないgenerous; unstinting
- 惜しげもなくfreely; generously; liberally; ungrudgingly
- 出し惜しみbeing reluctant to give out (pay, provide, etc.); giving out grudgingly
- 別れを惜しむto loathe to part (with); to be reluctant to leave (someone)
- 可惜alas; regrettably; to my great regret; tragically
- 惜しむらくはit is to be regretted that ...; it is a pity that ...; it is unfortunate that ...
- 寝る間も惜しんでwithout sparing time for sleep
- 命を惜しむto hold one's life dear; to be reluctant to die
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