惋悼 is a formal literary verb meaning 'to mourn with deep pity and sorrow', especially for someone or something that has suffered an untimely, tragic, or unjust loss. The first character 惋 (wǎn) conveys regret, pity, or lamentation—often for what could have been—while the second character 悼 (dào) means 'to mourn' or 'to grieve', typically for the dead. Together, they express a layered emotional response: not just grief, but sorrow tinged with sympathy, helplessness, or moral anguish.

This word appears most often in written Chinese—such as obituaries, memorial essays, historical commentary, or literary descriptions of loss—and is rarely used in casual speech. It carries solemn, respectful weight and is frequently applied to figures whose deaths evoke both personal sorrow and broader social or ethical reflection, such as talented young people who die prematurely or victims of injustice.