憂い（うれい）
JLPT N1 · i-adjective
Pitch accent: odaka (tail-high) — high to the end, drops on a following particle (accent on mora 3)
Meaning: sorrow / anxiety
Conjugation
| Form | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| te-form | 憂くて | うれくて |
| ta-form (past) | 憂かった | うれかった |
| nai-form (negative) | 憂くない | うれくない |
Example sentences
- 彼の目には憂いがある。 — There's a shadow of sorrow in his eyes.
- 将来への憂いを抱える。 — I carry a sense of anxiety about the future.
Idioms & proverbs containing “憂い”
- 備えあれば憂いなし (そなえあればうれいなし) — if you are prepared you don't have to worry; it's good to have a shelter against every storm
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “憂い” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)