切ない[せつない] (setsunai)

painful, trying, oppressive, suffocating

  • JLPT N1
  • Pitch 3
  • #7114 most frequent

Meaning

切ない (せつない, setsunai) is a JLPT N1 vocabulary word meaning “painful, trying, oppressive, suffocating”.

Kanji in this word

Example sentences 10

かれとの しあわせな 日々ひびおもすと せつなかった

It was painful to remember happier times with him.

それはとても切ない。

That is very painful.

それはとても切ない話です。

That is a heartbreaking story.

それはとても切ない感じがします。

That makes me feel very sad.