Lao san is almost right. But some mistakes. adjective ＋ そう　 こわい＋そうー＞こわそう（怖そう） someone or something seems scary. But　かわいそう　is one word. 　　 someone or something seems poor There is no word かわいいそう in Japanese. かわいいみたい is similar to the meaning. Other examples. あつい＋そう　ー＞あつそう さむい＋そう　ー＞さむそう おいしい＋そう　ー＞おいしそう

http://mylifeasagaijin.blogspot.com/2006/11/kawaii-or-kowai.html こわいそう = so scary かわいそう = poor thing かわいいそう = so cute If you're foreign, any of these may be in play. ;)

it means "poor thing". when you feel sorry for someone . and say how poor he is...... you can say .....kawaii sou hito.