惜
セキ, お.しい, お.しむ

pity, be sparing of, frugal, stingy, regret

JLPT1 G7 S11 F1641

As per 昔# (pile) + 心 heart/emotions → negative feelings piled in the heart, in the form of *regret*, *disappointment*, lamentation etc. → *lament*; *reluctant* → (reluctant to) *spare/grudge*. Also, *cherish*, *hold/regard dear*, and *precious* (← be loathe to part with), as well as *pitiful* (← lament) and *wasteful* (← sparing/grudging).

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