The core meaning of the kanji 惜 is "to regret," "to cherish," or "to be reluctant to part with." It conveys a sense of feeling sadness or loss over something that is gone, or a valuing of something precious and wanting to preserve it. It can also imply being frugal or careful with something because you don't want to waste it.

・On-yomi (音読み): セキ (seki) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): お(しい) (oshii)

⚫︎惜しい試合だった。 Translation: It was a pity (a close game). ⚫︎時間惜しんで勉強する。 Translation: I study, valuing my time. ⚫︎別れを惜しむ。 Translation: To regret the parting (to be sad about the farewell).

The kanji 惜 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字). The left side is a radical called "りっしんべん" ( 忄), representing "heart" or "emotion." The right side is 昔 (seki or mukashi), which means "old times" or "past." This combination suggests that the kanji 惜 is related to emotional attachment to the past or to something that is valued and might be lost. The "heart" radical provides the meaning, and 昔 contributes the sound (phonetic element).