“〜kinodoku・〜okinodoku”: Poor Thing / I Feel for Them [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
An expression of sympathy for another person's misfortune.
“〜kinodoku・〜okinodoku”: Poor Thing / I Feel for Them
「気の毒 (きのどく)」 is a な-adjective with two meanings: ① “(of another's situation) pitiful, deserving of sympathy, regrettable”: 「家が火事だなんて、本当にお気の毒ですね」 (a house fire — I'm so sorry to hear that), 「気の毒な話を聞いた」 (I heard a pitiful story); ② “(having troubled the other person) feeling sorry, apologetic”: 「わざわざ来ていただいて、気の毒です」 (I feel bad having you come all this way). ⚠️ 「お気の毒」 is the polite, condolence form (expressing sympathy for the other's misfortune). ⚠️ 「気の毒でならない／気の毒でたまらない」 = feel terribly sorry for them. ⚠️ Don't confuse with 「残念 (regret over a result)」.
🧠 Core nuance: feeling sad for the other person, unable to bear it (sympathy)
The core is feeling sympathy, unable to bear another's unfortunate situation: 「気の毒」 = feeling sad for, pitying the other (sympathy arising from seeing another's misfortune: 火事だなんてお気の毒 = a fire, how unfortunate, 気の毒な境遇 = a pitiful circumstance). ⚠️ The other meaning is ‘feeling sorry for having troubled the other' (feeling bad for having put them out: わざわざすみません、気の毒です). ⚠️ 「お気の毒」 is the polite, condolence form, expressing sympathy, condolence for the other's misfortune (akin to ご愁傷様); when you've caused trouble, use 「気の毒」 (feeling sorry). ⚠️ Contrast with 「残念」: 「気の毒」 = sympathy for another's situation/misfortune (sympathizing with the other: お気の毒に); 「残念」 = regret, disappointment over a result/matter (your own disappointment: 試合に負けて残念)! 気の毒 is ‘sympathy for another,' 残念 is ‘regret over a result.' ⚠️ 「気の毒でならない」 = feel unbearably sorry for them. A common word for sympathy, condolence.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| お気の毒(に/です) | (of another's misfortune) how unfortunate | 本当にお気の毒です |
| 気の毒な ＋ noun | a pitiful 〜 | 気の毒な話 |
| 気の毒でならない | feel terribly sorry for them | 気の毒でならない |
| 気の毒 (apologetic) | (having troubled) feeling sorry | 来ていただいて気の毒 |
💬 Example Sentences
- 家が火事だなんて、本当にお気の毒ですね。(A house fire — I'm truly sorry to hear that.) — condolence, sympathy
- 彼の不幸な境遇を聞いて、気の毒でならなかった。(Hearing of his unfortunate circumstances, I felt terribly sorry for him.) — utmost sympathy
- そんな気の毒な話は、聞いていられない。(I can't bear to hear such a pitiful story.) — 気の毒な ＋ noun
- わざわざ遠くまで来ていただいて、気の毒です。(I feel bad having you come all this way.) — feeling sorry
- お気の毒ですが、今回はご希望に添えません。(I'm sorry, but this time we can't meet your wishes.) — gentle condolence
🔄 Compare: 気の毒 vs 残念 vs かわいそう vs 申し訳ない
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜気の毒 | “(of another's situation) sympathy, pitiful” / feeling sorry | お気の毒に |
| 〜残念 | “(of a result) regret” (your own disappointment) | 負けて残念 |
| 〜かわいそう | “pitiful” (more colloquial, direct sympathy) | かわいそうな子 |
| 〜申し訳ない | “sorry, apologetic” (your own apology) | 申し訳ない |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Distinguish from 残念: 気の毒 = sympathy for another's situation; 残念 = regret over a result (your own disappointment) — don't confuse!
- Two meanings: 気の毒 = ① sympathy for another ② feeling sorry for having troubled them, by context.
- お気の毒 is condolence: お気の毒に/お気の毒です is for condoling another's misfortune (polite).
- It's a な-adjective: 気の毒な ＋ noun (気の毒な話); 気の毒でならない = feel terribly sorry.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
「気の毒・お気の毒」 is a な-adjective with two senses: ① (of another's situation) pitiful, deserving of sympathy (お気の毒ですね = I'm sorry to hear that); ② (having troubled the other) feeling sorry. お気の毒 is the polite, condolence form. 気の毒でならない = feel terribly sorry for them. ⚠️ Distinguish from the ‘regret over a result' 「残念」 — 気の毒 is sympathy for another, 残念 is regret over a result. Also distinguish from the colloquial 「かわいそう」 and the self-apology 「申し訳ない」. Common for sympathy, condolence. A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N1: 気の毒/お気の毒 = ① (of another's situation) sympathy, pitiful ② (having troubled) feeling sorry; お気の毒に = condolence.
- Core distinction: 気の毒 (sympathy for another's situation) vs 残念 (regret over a result, your own disappointment).
- Extension: 気の毒でならない = feel terribly sorry; 気の毒な ＋ noun; it's a な-adjective.
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「家が火事だなんて、本当に___ですね。」（真可憐／遺憾）
(A) お気の毒 (B) おかげ (C) お互い (D) おまけ
Q2. 「気の毒」のもう一つの意味は?
(A) (給對方添麻煩)過意不去
(B) 高興
(C) 生氣
(D) 害怕
Q3. 「気の毒でならない」の意味は?
(A) 覺得(對方)可憐極了
(B) 覺得很開心
(C) 毫不在意
(D) 覺得幸運
Q4. 「気の毒」と「残念」の違いは?
(A) 気の毒＝同情他人遭遇;残念＝對結果的可惜
(B) 兩者完全相同
(C) 気の毒＝對結果
(D) 残念＝同情他人
Q5. 用法が自然なのは?
(A) お気の毒な話を聞いた。 (B) お気の毒を食べる。
(C) 気の毒だうれしい(矛盾)。 (D) 気の毒に行け(命令)。
答案解析
1. (A) お気の毒 ── 真令人遺憾/可憐。
2. (A) ── 給對方添麻煩而過意不去。
3. (A) ── 覺得對方可憐極了。
4. (A) ── 気の毒 同情他人;残念 對結果。
5. (A) ── 「お気の毒な話を聞いた」正確。