pity

/ˈpɪti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpɪti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpi-tē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈpɪt.i/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpɪt̬.i/ (ame, ipa)

pity — 名詞

1. a situation that makes you feel a small, regretful disappointment — used to comm

1.名詞A2
釋義

可惜；遺憾

讓人覺得有點失望的情況

a situation that makes you feel a small, regretful disappointment — used to comment that something didn't work out the way you hoped, often in the fixed phrases 'what a pity' or 'a pity that…'.

例句

What a pity that the museum closes early on Sundays.

真可惜，博物館星期天這麼早就關門了。

what a pity that + clause (regret about a fact)

It's a pity you can't come to Lina's wedding next month.

你下個月不能來 Lina 的婚禮，真是可惜。

it's a pity (that) + clause

同義詞
  • shame

    almost identical in this use ('what a shame'); slightly more informal

  • misfortune

    more formal, suggests bigger bad luck rather than mild regret

反義詞
  • blessing

    a fortunate situation, the opposite kind of comment

文法句型

a pity (that)…

a pity to do something

what a pity

such a pity

用法筆記

Always preceded by 'a' (singular) and used in light, everyday regret — not for serious sorrow. Very common in British English speech as a mild expression of sympathy or disappointment. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense labels a SITUATION as regrettable, while sense 2 names a feeling you have toward a PERSON.

常見錯誤

❌It's pity you can't come.
✅It's a pity you can't come.
💡always include 'a' before 'pity' in this sense.
❌What a pity for your grandmother's death.
✅I'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother.
💡'a pity' is too light for serious loss; use 'sorry' or 'sad news'.

2. the gentle, sad emotion you feel when you see that another person is suffering,

2.名詞B2
釋義

憐憫；同情

因他人受苦而感到的悲傷

the gentle, sad emotion you feel when you see that another person is suffering, struggling, or going through something painful, and you wish their situation were better.

例句

Maya felt a wave of pity for the stray dog shivering outside the supermarket.

Maya 對著超市外發抖的流浪狗，心中湧起一陣憐憫。

pity for + noun (target of the feeling)

Nurse Patel looked at the small boy in the burn ward with pity in her eyes.

Patel 護士看著燒燙傷病房裡的小男孩，眼中帶著憐憫。

with pity in [body part] (visible feeling)

同義詞
  • sympathy

    warmer and more respectful; doesn't carry the slight superiority that 'pity' can imply

  • compassion

    stronger, more active feeling that usually moves you to help

  • sorrow

    deeper sadness, often for a death or major loss rather than ongoing hardship

反義詞
  • indifference

    complete lack of feeling either way

  • cruelty

    active wish to cause suffering, the opposite reaction

文法句型

pity for somebody

feel pity

用法筆記

Often carries a slight edge of looking down on the suffering person — many people prefer to receive 'sympathy' or 'understanding' rather than 'pity'. Distinguish from sense 3 (compassion that drives action): this sense names the felt emotion itself, not the helping behaviour it leads to.

常見錯誤

❌I have a pity on him.
✅I feel pity for him.
💡'pity' here is uncountable; use 'feel pity for', not 'have a pity on'.
❌She told me her story with much pity.' (when meaning she was sad about her own situation)
✅She told me her story with much sadness.
💡you feel pity FOR others, not about your own life.

3. the kind, soft feeling for someone in trouble that actually pushes you to help t

3.名詞C1
釋義

慈悲；不忍

促使人伸出援手或寬待他人的不忍之心

the kind, soft feeling for someone in trouble that actually pushes you to help them or to treat them more gently than you otherwise would — for example, giving a tired stranger a place to sleep, or letting off a child who has misbehaved.

例句

The farmer took pity on the lost hikers and drove them back to the village.

農夫憐憫迷路的登山客，開車把他們送回村裡。

take pity on + person (act on the feeling)

Have pity on poor Marcus — he has been carrying these heavy boxes up the stairs for an hour.

可憐可憐 Marcus 吧，他已經把這些重箱子搬上樓搬了一個小時了。

have pity on + person (formal appeal)

同義詞
  • mercy

    stronger; usually used when someone has power to punish but chooses not to

  • compassion

    warmer and more respectful; broader than pity, can apply to groups or situations

  • clemency

    formal/legal; mercy shown by an authority in punishment

反義詞
  • ruthlessness

    willingness to act without any softening kindness

文法句型

take pity on somebody

have pity on somebody

用法筆記

Often appears in fixed expressions 'take pity on' and 'have pity on'. Subject is usually a person who has the power to help or punish. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 emphasises the resulting kind action, while sense 2 stops at the feeling.

常見錯誤

❌She took pity to the homeless man.
✅She took pity on the homeless man.
💡the preposition is always 'on', never 'to' or 'for'.
❌The teacher had pity at the tired children.
✅The teacher had pity on the tired children.
💡same rule: 'have/take pity ON someone'.

pity — 動詞