The word ‘pitiful’ is an adjective in English that carries significant emotional weight and is often used to describe something or someone that evokes feelings of pity, sympathy, or sorrow. It can refer to situations, behaviors, conditions, or individuals that appear weak, unfortunate, or deserving of compassion. Understanding the Nepali meaning of ‘pitiful’ involves exploring its various nuances, contexts, and emotional undertones. This topic delves into the meaning of ‘pitiful’ in Nepali, how it is used in sentences, its synonyms, and cultural implications, making it easier for learners to grasp the word’s depth and apply it correctly in both languages.
Nepali Meaning of Pitiful
In Nepali, the word ‘pitiful’ can be translated into multiple terms depending on the context, such as:
- दठनà¥à¤ (Dayaniya)This is the most direct translation, used to describe something or someone who arouses deep sympathy or sadness due to their unfortunate or miserable condition.
- à¤à¤°à¥à¤£à¤¾à¤ à¥à¤à¥à¤¤ (Karunayukta)Meaning ‘full of compassion,’ this word emphasizes the emotional response of feeling pity or compassion towards a person or situation.
- ठहसानमनà¥à¤¦ (Ahsanmand)Used to imply someone deserving of pity or sympathy, often highlighting vulnerability.
- ठसहाठ(Asahaya)Meaning helpless or vulnerable, often overlapping with the sense of pitifulness when describing someone who cannot help themselves.
Understanding ‘Pitiful’ in Different Contexts
‘Pitiful’ can be applied to various contexts it can describe a person, an animal, a situation, or even an object that evokes pity or sadness. In Nepali, the appropriate word depends on whether the context highlights vulnerability, helplessness, or just evokes compassion.
Using Pitiful to Describe People
When used to describe a person, ‘pitiful’ often refers to someone who is suffering, weak, or in distress. This can be due to physical, emotional, or social conditions. In Nepali, calling someoneदठनà¥à¤ orठसहाठconveys a strong sense of empathy or sorrow for their plight.
- Example: The pitiful old man was sitting alone on the street.
दठनà¥à¤ बà¥à¤¢à¥ मानà¥à¤à¥ सडà¤à¤®à¤¾ à¤à¤à¥à¤²à¥ बसà¥à¤à¥ थिठà¥à¥¤ - Example: She looked pitiful after losing her job.
à¤à¤¾à¤ िर ठà¥à¤®à¤¾à¤à¤ªà¤à¤¿ à¤à¤¨à¤à¥ ठनà¥à¤¹à¤¾à¤° दठनà¥à¤ दà¥à¤à¤¿à¤¨à¥à¤¥à¥à¤ à¥à¥¤
Describing Situations or Events as Pitiful
Beyond individuals, ‘pitiful’ can describe situations that are unfortunate or evoke sadness. In Nepali, words likeदठनà¥à¤ ठवसà¥à¤¥à¤¾orठहसानमनà¥à¤¦ सà¥à¤¥à¤¿à¤¤à¤¿may be used.
- Example: The living conditions in that area are pitiful.
तà¥à¤ ॠà¤à¥à¤·à¥à¤¤à¥à¤°à¤®à¤¾ बसà¥à¤¬à¤¾à¤¸à¤à¥ ठवसà¥à¤¥à¤¾ दठनà¥à¤ à¤à¥¤ - Example: It is pitiful to see children without education.
शिà¤à¥à¤·à¤¾ नपाà¤à¤à¤¾ बà¤à¥à¤à¤¾à¤¹à¤°à¥à¤²à¤¾à¤ हà¥à¤°à¥à¤¨à¥ दठनà¥à¤ à¤à¥à¤°à¤¾ हà¥à¥¤
Pitiful as a Critical or Negative Judgment
Sometimes ‘pitiful’ is used sarcastically or critically to describe something as inadequate, weak, or pathetic. For example, a poor performance or a weak argument may be called pitiful. In Nepali, this sense can be captured by words likeनिराशाà¤à¤¨à¤(disappointing) orà¤à¤®à¤à¥à¤°(weak).
- Example: That was a pitiful attempt to solve the problem.
तà¥à¤ ॠसमसà¥à¤ ा समाधान ठरà¥à¤¨à¥ पà¥à¤°à¤ ास à¤à¤®à¤à¥à¤° थिठà¥à¥¤ - Example: His excuse was pitiful and unconvincing.
à¤à¤¸à¤à¥ बहाना निराशाà¤à¤¨à¤ र ठविशà¥à¤µà¤¸à¤¨à¥à¤ थिठà¥à¥¤
Synonyms and Related Words for Pitiful
Learning synonyms can deepen understanding of ‘pitiful’ and improve usage:
- Sympathetic: सहानà¥à¤à¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ªà¥à¤°à¥à¤£ (Sahanubhutipurna)
- Pathetic: दठनà¥à¤ (Dayaniya), à¤à¤°à¥à¤£à¤¾à¤à¤¨à¤ (Karunajanak)
- Tragic: दà¥à¤à¤¦ (Dukhada)
- Heartbreaking: मनà¤à¤¿à¤¤à¥à¤°à¥ à¤à¥à¤¡à¥à¤¨à¥ (Manabhitrai Chedne)
- Desperate: निराश (Nirash)
Examples of Pitiful in Sentences
Below are examples showing the use of ‘pitiful’ in everyday English sentences with Nepali translations to understand usage clearly:
- The stray dog looked pitiful and hungry.
ठलà¥à¤¤à¥à¤²à¥ सडà¤à¤®à¤¾ फालिà¤à¤à¥ à¤à¥à¤à¥à¤° दठनà¥à¤ र à¤à¥à¤à¤¾à¤à¤à¥ दà¥à¤à¤¿à¤¨à¥à¤¥à¥à¤ à¥à¥¤ - It’s pitiful how some people have to live without basic necessities.
à¤à¥à¤¹à¥ मानिसहरà¥à¤²à¤¾à¤ à¤à¤§à¤¾à¤°à¤à¥à¤¤ à¤à¤µà¤¶à¥à¤ à¤à¤¤à¤¾à¤¹à¤°à¥ बिना बाà¤à¤à¥à¤¨à¥à¤ªà¤°à¥à¤¨à¥ ठवसà¥à¤¥à¤¾ दठनà¥à¤ à¤à¥¤ - She gave a pitiful smile despite her troubles.
à¤à¤«à¥à¤¨à¤¾ समसà¥à¤ ाहरॠबाबà¤à¥à¤¦ à¤à¤¨à¤²à¥ दठनà¥à¤ मà¥à¤¸à¥à¤à¤¾à¤¨ दिà¤à¤¨à¥à¥¤ - The team’s pitiful performance disappointed the fans.
à¤à¥à¤²à¥à¤à¥ à¤à¤®à¤à¥à¤° पà¥à¤°à¤¦à¤°à¥à¤¶à¤¨à¤²à¥ समरà¥à¤¥à¤à¤¹à¤°à¥à¤²à¤¾à¤ निराश ठराठà¥à¥¤
Emotional and Cultural Nuances of Pitiful
In Nepali culture, expressing pity or compassion is often intertwined with respect and humility. The feeling of seeing someone pitiful is not just about sadness but also a call to help or show kindness. When translating or using ‘pitiful,’ it is essential to consider this cultural context, ensuring the sentiment is not offensive but rather empathetic.
Using words likeदठनà¥à¤ carries a respectful tone that calls for compassion and sometimes action. In contrast, using ‘pitiful’ sarcastically or critically might not always translate well unless the tone is clear.
When to Use Pitiful and When to Avoid
Because ‘pitiful’ can sometimes sound patronizing or harsh, especially when describing people, it’s important to use it carefully:
- Use ‘pitiful’ to describe genuinely unfortunate situations or evoke empathy.
- Avoid using it to insult or belittle people, especially those facing difficulties.
- Consider the emotional impact of the word in both English and Nepali contexts.
The word ‘pitiful’ encompasses a broad range of meanings, from evoking sympathy and compassion to sometimes criticizing inadequacy or weakness. In Nepali, it is most commonly translated asदठनà¥à¤ orà¤à¤°à¥à¤£à¤¾à¤ à¥à¤à¥à¤¤, capturing the emotional depth of the term. Whether describing a person, situation, or action, understanding the nuances and cultural sensitivities helps use ‘pitiful’ effectively and respectfully.
By learning how to apply ‘pitiful’ in various contexts, you can improve your English and Nepali communication, especially in expressing feelings of compassion, sorrow, or critique. Remember to consider tone and audience, and use the word to foster empathy rather than offense.