同情 tóngqíng compassion
compassion; sympathy
How to remember 同情: 同 same + 情 feeling = compassion.
Characters
How it is used
- Takes a person directly as its object, no preposition needed - unlike English "sympathize WITH": 我很同情他 (wǒ hěn tóngqíng tā) "I feel for him."
- Also works as a noun: 他值得同情 (tā zhíde tóngqíng) "he deserves sympathy."
- More neutral and respectful than 可怜 kělián "to pity," which can carry a condescending, looking-down-on-someone tone.
Example sentences
- 每个人都对囚犯表示同情。 Měigè rén dōu duì qiúfàn biǎoshìtóngqíng.Everybody showed sympathy toward the prisoner.