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A2 adjective 3 Min. Lesezeit

残念

When something doesn't go as planned, or you're disappointed about an outcome, you can use the word 残念 (zannen). Think of it as expressing a feeling of regret or that something is unfortunate. It's a common way to show sympathy when someone shares bad news, or to express your own disappointment.

For example, if you miss a train, you might say, "Ah, 残念 (zannen)!" Or if a friend can't come to a party, you could say, "That's 残念 (zannen)." It’s a very practical word for everyday situations where things don’t turn out how you hoped.

When something doesn't go as planned or you feel a sense of disappointment, the word 残念 (zannen) is what you'll want to use. It expresses a feeling of regret or that something is unfortunate. You might hear it in situations where a plan falls through or an outcome isn't what was hoped for.

For example, if you miss a train, you might say 「電車に乗り遅れて残念です」 (Densha ni noriokurete zannen desu - It's a shame I missed the train). It's a common and practical word to convey mild disappointment in everyday conversations.

Jetzt üben Beispiele

§ Understanding 残念 (zannen)

You've learned that 残念 (zannen) means "regrettable," "unfortunate," or "too bad." It's a versatile adjective, but Japanese has several ways to express similar sentiments. Let's look at when to use 残念 and how it differs from other words.

§ 残念 (zannen) vs. 悔しい (kuyashii)

悔しい (kuyashii): Frustrating; vexing; mortifying; regrettable (often with a sense of personal chagrin or anger).

While both 残念 and 悔しい can be translated as "regrettable," they carry different nuances. 残念 often expresses a more general sense of disappointment or pity for a situation or another person. It's about a missed opportunity or an unfavorable outcome.

試合に負けて残念だった。(Shiai ni makete zannen datta.)

Translation hint: It was unfortunate that we lost the game (a more general disappointment).

悔しい, on the other hand, conveys a stronger, more personal feeling of vexation, frustration, or even anger at oneself or circumstances, especially when you feel you could have done better or were unfairly treated. It often involves a feeling of not being able to accept a loss or failure.

あと一歩で負けてしまって悔しい。(Ato ippo de makete shimatte kuyashii.)

Translation hint: It's frustrating to lose by just one more step (a strong, personal feeling of chagrin).

§ 残念 (zannen) vs. 惜しい (oshii)

惜しい (oshii): Regrettable; a shame; nearly; close; valuable (often used when something was very close to being perfect or successful, or when something good is being wasted).

惜しい is often used when something was very close to being successful or perfect, but just missed. It's a feeling of "almost there" or "what a waste."

ゴールが惜しい！(Gooru ga oshii!)

Translation hint: That was a close goal! (Almost scored).

You can use 残念 when something didn't happen as hoped, but 惜しい specifically highlights the near-miss aspect or the feeling of loss for something good. If you barely missed a train, you could say both 残念 and 惜しい, but 惜しい emphasizes how close you were.

いい天気なのにどこへも行けないのは惜しいね。(Ii tenki nanoni doko e mo ikenai no wa oshii ne.)

Translation hint: It's a shame we can't go anywhere despite the good weather (wasting good weather).

§ Summary of usage

Here's a quick guide:

残念 (zannen): General disappointment, pity, or regret for a situation or outcome. "Too bad," "unfortunate."
悔しい (kuyashii): Strong personal frustration, vexation, or chagrin, often with a hint of anger or dissatisfaction at oneself or the outcome.
惜しい (oshii): Regret for a near-miss, a wasted opportunity, or something valuable being lost or underutilized. "A shame," "close call."

Choosing the right word depends on the specific nuance of regret or disappointment you want to convey. Practice using them in different contexts to get a feel for their distinct meanings.

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The character 斬 (zan) is also used in words like 斬新 (zanshin), meaning 'novel' or 'original', which uses the 'cut' meaning to imply breaking new ground. This is unrelated to 残念, but shows the versatility of kanji.

Beispiele nach Niveau

せっかくの機会を逃してしまい、残念でなりません。

I missed a rare opportunity, and I can't help but feel regretful.

彼の突然の退職は、会社にとって非常に残念な出来事でした。

His sudden resignation was a very unfortunate event for the company.

もう少しで目標達成だったのに、残念ながら届きませんでした。

I was so close to achieving my goal, but unfortunately, I didn't make it.

雨で運動会が中止になり、子供たちは皆残念がっていました。

The sports day was canceled due to rain, and all the children were disappointed.

こんなに美味しい料理が食べられないなんて、本当に残念だ。

It's truly a shame that I can't eat such delicious food.

長年の努力が実らなかったのは、誠に残念なことです。

It's truly regrettable that many years of effort did not bear fruit.

彼がパーティに来られないのは残念だけど、また今度誘おう。

It's a shame he can't come to the party, but let's invite him again next time.

結局、その計画は頓挫してしまい、関係者一同、残念に思っています。

Ultimately, the plan fell through, and all involved parties are disappointed.

Wortherkunft

残念 (zan'nen) combines 斬 (zan, to cut, to kill) and 念 (nen, thought, desire, attention).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Originally, 残念 (zannen) referred to 'remaining thoughts' or 'lingering regrets' after an event, often implying a sense of a task being incomplete or a desire unfulfilled.

Sino-Japanese (kango)

Kultureller Kontext

When a Japanese person says 残念です (zannen desu), it often carries a stronger sense of genuine disappointment or sympathy than a simple 'that's too bad' in English. It can be used to express regret for an outcome, or to politely decline an offer without explicitly stating a reason. It's a very common and versatile expression for conveying a negative, but not overly harsh, sentiment.

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パーティーに行けなくて、とても___。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 残念

The speaker could not go to the party, so they feel 'regrettable' or 'unfortunate'.

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雨でピクニックが中止になって、___ですね。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 残念

The picnic was canceled due to rain, which is 'unfortunate'.

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テストの結果が悪くて、___。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 残念

Having bad test results is 'regrettable' or 'unfortunate'.

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コンサートのチケットが売り切れて、本当に___。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 残念

Concert tickets being sold out is 'unfortunate'.

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彼に会えなくて、___でした。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 残念

Not being able to meet him was 'regrettable'.

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新しい映画を見逃して、___。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 残念

Missing the new movie is 'unfortunate'.

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Someone expresses regret.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: それは残念です。