adjective

  1. regrettable, disappointing, unfortunate.
  2. precious, dear, valuable.
  3. too good for, deserving better.
  4. almost (but not quite), close (but no cigar).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
 
惜しい おしい

Contained Kanji Breakdown

pity, be sparing of, frugal
お.しい セキ (8th, N1)
heart, standing heart radical variant (no. 61)
シン こころ
once upon a time, antiquity, old times
むかし セキ シャク (3rd, N3)
twenty(廿) variant
day, sun, Japan
ひ にっ ニチ (1st, N5)