The word "可怜" is formed by combining two characters that, together, create a layered emotional concept. The first character, "可" (kě), implies something that is allowable, worthy, or can be regarded as such, introducing a sense of subjective judgment. The second character, "怜" (lián), carries the core meaning of pity, compassion, or sympathy for someone in a diminished or suffering state. When fused, the formation moves beyond simple pity; it conceptually frames a state or person as deserving of compassion or worthy of being pitied, evoking an image of something that inherently triggers our sense of empathy because its condition is seen as both unfortunate and valid.