残念

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See also: 殘念

Chinese

For pronunciation and definitions of – see 殘念 (“still having lingering feelings for; unresigned; pitiable; regrettable; etc.”).
(This term is the simplified form of 殘念).
Notes:

Japanese

Kanji in this term
ざん
Grade: 4
ねん
Grade: 4
goon
Alternative spelling
殘念 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Seems to be a Japanese coinage from Middle Chinese-derived roots, as a compound of (zan, remaining, lingering) +‎ (nen, concern). Appears in texts from the late 1500s.[1]

Pronunciation

Adjective

(ざん)(ねん) (zannen-na (adnominal (ざん)(ねん) (zannen na), adverbial (ざん)(ねん) (zannen ni))

  1. regretful
    1. with connotations of pity, sadness, disappointment, and shame
      残念(ざんねん)ことに、火事(かじ)(おお)絵画(かいが)(うしな)われちゃった
      Zannen na koto ni, kaji de ōku no kaiga ga ushinawarechatta.
      Unfortunately, many paintings were lost in the fire.
    2. with connotations of vexation or mortification (often used to end a sentence)
      ()てたはずだったサッカー試合(しあい)()けて残念(ざんねん)だ。
      Kateta hazu datta sakkā no shiai ni makete zannen da.
      I feel regretful losing the soccer game that we should have won.

Inflection

Noun

(ざん)(ねん) (zannen

  1. regret
    その美術館(びじゅつかん)火事(かじ)貴重(きちょう)絵画(かい)(がも)えてしまったことは残念(ざんねん)だ。
    Sono bijutsukan no kaji de kichō na kaiga ga moete shimatta koto wa zannen da.
    It's a pity losing the priceless paintings in the museum's fire.
    しかしまたこの(ざん)(ねん)(たん)(じゅん)ものではなくて、…
    Shikashi mata kono zannen wa tanjun na mono de wa nakute,…
    But then again, this regret was not a simple thing,

References

  1. ^ Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典(新装版) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  2. ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN