同情
tóng qíng HSK 4

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我很同情他。
Wǒ hěn tóngqíng tā.
I sympathize with him a lot.
她同情那个孩子。
Tā tóngqíng nàge háizi.
She pities that child.
我们同情他的困难。
Wǒmen tóngqíng tā de kùnnán.
We sympathize with his difficulties.
我同情他。
Wǒ tóngqíng tā.
I sympathize with him.
她同情动物。
Tā tóngqíng dòngwù.
She pities animals.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 同 (tóng) means 'same' or 'together', and 情 (qíng) means 'feeling' or 'emotion'. So, 同情 literally means 'same feeling' – you are sharing the same feeling as someone who is suffering, which is the essence of sympathy.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in register and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, in spoken and written Chinese. It is commonly used when discussing personal hardships, social issues, or unfortunate events. It often describes a reaction to someone's illness, loss, poverty, or other adversity.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used as a transitive verb: 同情 + [someone]. It can be modified by adverbs like 很, 非常, 十分. It can also be used in the structure '对...表示同情' (to express sympathy towards...).

🏯 Cultural Notes

Expressing 同情 is a valued social behavior, showing concern and humanity. However, overemphasizing pity can sometimes be seen as embarrassing for the recipient, as it highlights their misfortune. The concept is closely tied to the Confucian value of 'ren' (仁) or benevolence.

🔄 Similar Words

怜悯 (liánmǐn) also means 'pity' but can carry a stronger connotation of feeling sorry for someone from a position of perceived superiority. 可怜 (kělián) is often an adjective meaning 'pitiful' or can be a verb 'to pity', but it sometimes implies looking down on someone. 同情 is more about empathetic understanding on a more equal level.

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