Chinese vocabulary list: How to use 可怜 (kělián) ‘pitiful’ and 可惜 (kěxī) ‘a pity’ in Mandarin Chinese

那只小狗好可怜。

Nà zhī xiǎogǒu hǎo kělián.

That little dog is so pitiful.

他一个人住，真可怜。

Tā yí gè rén zhù, zhēn kělián.

He lives all by himself, poor man.

那个可怜的孩子没有家。

Nàge kělián de háizi méiyǒu jiā.

That poor child has no home.

他冻得直发抖，真可怜。

Tā dòng dé zhí fādǒu, zhēn kělián.

He's shivering with cold, poor thing.

他的工资少得可怜。

Tā de gōngzī shǎo de kělián.

His wages are pitifully low.

你别可怜我。

Nǐ bié kělián wǒ.

Don't feel sorry for me.

大家都很可怜他。

Dàjiā dōu hěn kělián tā.

Everyone feels sorry for him.

我不需要你可怜我。

Wǒ bù xūyào nǐ kělián wǒ.

I don't need you to pity me.

别理那个可怜虫。

Biélǐ nàge kěliánchóng.

Ignore that pathetic wretch.

可惜今天下雨了。

Kěxī jīntiān xiàyǔle.

It's a pity it rained today.

可惜你昨天不在。

Kěxī nǐ zuótiān bú zài.

It's a pity you weren't here yesterday.

这么好的机会，可惜他错过了。

Zhème hǎo de jīhuì, kěxī tā cuòguòle.

Such a good opportunity, and sadly he missed it.

真可惜，票卖完了。

Zhēn kěxī, piào màiwánle.

What a pity, the tickets are sold out.

太可惜了！

Tài kěxīle!

What a shame!

剩这么多菜，扔了真可惜。

Shèng zhème duō cài, rēngle zhēn kěxī.

With this much food left, it's a waste to throw it away.

这件衣服还很新，不穿多可惜。

Zhè jiàn yīfu hái hěn xīn, bù chuān duō kěxī.

This piece of clothing is still new, what a waste not to wear it.

天气这么好，待在家里太可惜了。

Tiānqì zhème hǎo, dài zài jiālǐ tài kěxīle.

The weather is so nice, it's a shame to stay at home.

没看到那场球赛，真可惜。

Méi kàndào nà chǎng qiúsài, zhēn kěxī.

What a pity we didn't see that match.

那只没人要的小猫真可怜。

Nà zhǐ méi rén yào de xiǎomāo zhēn kělián.

That kitten nobody wants is so pitiful.

她没赶上火车，真可惜。

Tā méi gǎnshàng huǒchē, zhēn kěxī.

She didn't catch the train, what a pity.

她没赶上火车，真可怜。

Tā méi gǎnshàng huǒchē, zhēn kělián.

She didn't catch the train, poor her.