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楚楚可憐

简楚楚可怜 · 繁楚楚可憐

Mandarin · pinyin chǔ chǔ kě lián

(idiom) pitiable; sweet, innocent and vulnerable

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Characters in this entry

楚: chǔ · name of feudal state; clear
可: kě · may, can, -able; possibly
憐: Look up this written character
怜: lián · pity, sympathize

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–3–3–2 · chu3 chu3 ke3 lian2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

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楚楚可憐 · find source passages ↗ · 楚楚可怜 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(of young women) delicate and charming
(idiomatic) sad and pitiable

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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