adjectival noun or quasi-adjective, noun

  1. sweet (e.g. young girls, flowers blooming), touchingly lovely, cute.
  2. pitiful, pitiable.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
可憐 かれん

Contained Kanji Breakdown

can, passable, mustn't
カ コク -べ.き (5th)
street, ward, town
チョウ テイ チン (3rd, N1)
mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)
pity, have mercy, sympathise
レン あわ.れむ (Kentei Pre-1)
heart, standing heart radical variant (no. 61)
シン こころ
rice, USA, metre
ベイ こめ マイ (2nd, N3)
to divide
tree, wood
き モク こ- (1st, N5)
dancing radical (no. 136)
ブ セン まい (Kentei Pre-1)
evening
ゆう セキ ゆ (1st, N4)
sit or stand astride(跨) variant