Sympathy is feeling compassion and pity for someone else's misfortune.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Feeling for someone else's hardship.
- Understanding and caring about suffering.
- Expressing compassion and pity.
Overview
“同情” (tóngqíng) 是一个表示情感的词语，指对他人的不幸或痛苦感同身受，并产生怜悯、关怀之情。它是一种对他者苦难的共鸣，并可能伴随着想要提供帮助的愿望。在汉语中，“同情”常用于描述人与人之间在面对困境时的情感互动。
“同情”作为一个名词，可以单独使用，也可以作为动词的宾语。例如，“表示同情”、“赢得同情”、“缺乏同情心”。它也可以与形容词搭配，如“深切的同情”、“表示同情”。在句子中，它常常用来表达一种情感状态或对他人遭遇的反应。
这个词语常见于描述人际关系、社会事件、新闻报道以及文学作品中。例如，当一个人遭遇不幸（如失业、疾病、失去亲人）时，其他人可能会对他说“我同情你”或“请接受我的同情”。在社会新闻中，也常报道关于对受灾者、弱势群体的“同情”之举。在非正式场合，人们会用“同情”来表达对朋友的关心；在正式场合，则可能用于更严肃的语境，如对受害者的哀悼。
与“同情”相似的词语包括“怜悯”(liánmǐn) 和“同情心”(tóngqíngxīn)。“怜悯”更侧重于居高临下的姿态，带有“可怜”的意味，有时可能略显居高临下；而“同情”则更强调情感上的共鸣和理解。“同情心”是名词，指同情的能力或表现，强调的是一种内在品质或习惯性的情感反应，而“同情”则可以是某个具体时刻的情感或行为。
Examples
得知你生病了，我非常同情。
everydayLearning you are sick, I feel very sympathetic.
社会各界对灾区人民表示了深切的同情和援助。
formalAll sectors of society expressed deep sympathy and aid to the people in the disaster area.
他总是对弱者表现出同情。
generalHe always shows sympathy towards the weak.
新闻报道了对遇难者家属的同情。
newsThe news reported on the sympathy for the families of the victims.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
我同情你
I sympathize with you.
请接受我的同情
Please accept my sympathy.
同情弱者
Sympathize with the weak.
Often Confused With
While both express concern for misfortune, '怜悯' (liánmǐn) can sometimes imply a sense of superiority or looking down on the person, whereas '同情' (tóngqíng) focuses more on shared feeling and empathy.
'同情心' (tóngqíngxīn) is specifically the noun referring to the quality or capacity for sympathy, the 'heart' of sympathy. '同情' (tóngqíng) can be the feeling itself or the act of expressing it.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
Sympathy is a common emotion expressed in daily life. It's important to convey sincerity when expressing sympathy. Avoid sounding condescending or insincere, as this can be perceived negatively. The word is generally neutral to positive in connotation.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse '同情' with '可怜' (kělián), using it in a way that sounds condescending. Also, sometimes learners might directly translate 'pity' which doesn't always capture the nuance of '同情'. Ensure the context fits the empathetic nature of the word.
Tips
Empathize, Don't Just Pity
True sympathy involves understanding and sharing feelings, not just feeling sorry for someone from a distance.
Avoid Condescending Tone
Be careful that your expression of sympathy doesn't sound like you are looking down on the person suffering.
Expressing Concern Culturally
In Chinese culture, expressing sympathy often involves sincere words and sometimes actions like offering help or support.
Word Origin
The word '同情' is composed of '同' (tóng), meaning 'same' or 'alike', and '情' (qíng), meaning 'feeling' or 'emotion'. Thus, it literally means 'same feeling', implying empathy and shared emotion.
Cultural Context
Expressing sympathy is a fundamental aspect of social interaction in Chinese culture, reflecting care and humanity. It's often shown through words, gestures, and sometimes tangible support, reinforcing social bonds.
Memory Tip
Think of '同' (same) and '情' (feeling). Sympathy is about having the *same feeling* for someone else's situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“同情”更侧重于感同身受和情感上的理解，而“可怜”有时可能带有一种居高临下的感觉，认为对方很弱小需要被施舍。同情是平等的，可怜则不一定。
当你看到别人遇到困难、不幸或者痛苦时，你产生的理解和关心他们感受的情感，就可以用“同情”来表达。
“同情”通常是褒义词，因为它代表着一种善良、关怀和人性的温暖。但如果过度或不真诚的同情，有时也会被视为一种负担或虚伪。
一般情况下，“同情”主要用来形容人对人或对动物的情感反应，很少用来形容物品。形容物品时，我们可能会用“可惜”或“惋惜”。
Test Yourself
看到他失业了，我感到很______。
根据语境，描述对他人不幸遭遇的情感反应，应填入“同情”。
下列哪个选项最能解释“同情”的含义？
“同情”的核心是理解和关心他人的痛苦或不幸。
词语：表示，深切，同情，受害者
这是一个完整的句子，表达了对受害者的同情。
Score: /3
Summary
Sympathy is feeling compassion and pity for someone else's misfortune.
- Feeling for someone else's hardship.
- Understanding and caring about suffering.
- Expressing compassion and pity.
Empathize, Don't Just Pity
True sympathy involves understanding and sharing feelings, not just feeling sorry for someone from a distance.
Avoid Condescending Tone
Be careful that your expression of sympathy doesn't sound like you are looking down on the person suffering.
Expressing Concern Culturally
In Chinese culture, expressing sympathy often involves sincere words and sometimes actions like offering help or support.
Examples
4 of 4得知你生病了，我非常同情。
Learning you are sick, I feel very sympathetic.
社会各界对灾区人民表示了深切的同情和援助。
All sectors of society expressed deep sympathy and aid to the people in the disaster area.
他总是对弱者表现出同情。
He always shows sympathy towards the weak.
新闻报道了对遇难者家属的同情。
The news reported on the sympathy for the families of the victims.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Vocabulary
More emotions words
有点
A1A little; somewhat; rather.
可恶
A2Hateful; detestable; abominable.
心不在焉
A2Absent-minded; preoccupied.
接受地
A2Acceptingly; receptively.
成就感
B1Sense of achievement; fulfillment.
撒娇
A2To act like a spoiled child; to act cute.
上瘾
B1To be addicted to something.
沉迷
A2To be addicted to; to be engrossed in.
敬佩
B1Admiration; respect; reverence.
佩服
B1To admire; to respect.
