惜 means “a pity, regret, cherish”

おしい · oshii

Also: pity, be sparing of, frugal, stingy

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): おしい, おしむ
On'yomi (Chinese reading): セキ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 11 strokes

The story

The heart (忄) beside 昔, long ago: a heart still holding on to what has passed. 惜しい is the groan of "so close" after a near miss, 惜しむ is to cherish or begrudge, and 名残惜しい is hating to say goodbye.

Used in 惜しい (oshii, so close/a pity), 惜しむ (oshimu, to value/begrudge), and 名残惜しい (nagorioshii, sad to part)

惜 means “a pity, regret, cherish”

The story

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