The difference between 可惜 and 可怜

The adverb 可惜

可惜

is used to express regret for missed opportunities or failure.

Examples

我也很想跟他一块儿去旅行，可惜我没有那么多时间

I’d normally be happy go with him , but unfortunately I don’t have much time

wǒ yě hěn xiǎng gēn tā yíkuàir qù lǚxíng, kěxí wǒ méi yǒu nàme duō shíjiān

可惜, 我没赶上

Too bad I didn’t come

kěxí, wǒ méi gǎnshàng

真可惜她不能在这儿亲眼看看

Too bad she can’t be here to see it with her own eyes

zhēn kěxí tā bù néng zài zhèr qīnyǎn kàn kàn

The adjective 可怜

可怜

is used to talk about something that causes the feeling of pity or compassion.

Examples

我为那个可怜的孩子感到难过

I feel sorry for that poor child

wǒ wèi nà ge kělián de háizi gǎndào nánguò

那个可怜的男人只剩下最后的五美元了

This poor man’s only got five dollars left

nà ge kělián de nánrén zhǐ shèngxià zuìhòu de wǔ měiyuán le

可怜的微笑

a poor smile

kělián de wēixiào

可怜 as a verb

可怜 can also be a verb "to pity".

Examples

请你可怜可怜他吧

Please, have some pity!

qǐng nǐ kělián kělián tā ba