Useful expressions meaning "regrettable"
Kentaro Takayama

Introduction
In Japan, we often say something is 'regrettable' in daily life. There are many nuances in the feeling of regret. We have at least 5 words that express 'regrettable' in Japanese. Sometimes it is a strong feeling, like sadness, but in other cases it has just a light meaning. It also has non-verbal physical expression. In English, it is expressed for example as stamping one's feet in frustration, or stamping one's feet in rage when stressed. Those expressions are used when someone is defeated or mistaken.

Expression 1
One word for regret in Japanese is 'kuyashii'. It means not being satisfied with a result or with one's skill. The expression 'meccha-kuyasii,' which means very regrettable, became a vogue word in 2000 when Yasuko Tajima, a swimmer who got a silver medal in the Sydney Olympic Games said it when she did not get the gold. Like that, the expression is used when someone is defeated or unable to do something.

Expression 2
Two other words for regrettable are 'zannen da' and 'itamashii' in Japanese. Both of them are used when a certain bad thing seems to be painful or bitter. The difference of these two words is that 'itamashii' is used in more serious situations. We say 'itamashi' when we face a terrible accident or death, while we often say 'zannen da' when we face a bad thing in daily life.

Expression 3
Another word for regret in Japanese is 'ikande-aru' in Japanese. This expression is often used by politicians. It is a solemn way of saying 'zannen da' and 'itamashii,' but it is only superficial. Mostly, it is used when a speaker does not feel much regret in his or her mind. Politicians use the expression when there is trouble and they do not want to be involved in the trouble.

Conclusion
It may be difficult for us to speak out tactfully an expression like 'regrettable', because when we say the expression we have to console other people or the speaker himself or herself who is facing unhappiness. As for Japanese, we have formed our society traditionally oriented for the group, so we have had to sympathize with other people strongly as a member of that society. I think this group society generates many ways of sayings that express 'regrettable'. As yet, we Japanese continue to skillfully choose our words to suit the situation that is regrettable.