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Empathy vs Sympathy | How to Use These Words Properly in Englishp

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Empathy vs Sympathy: The words empathy and sympathy are words with which we are pretty familiar. Both the terms have widespread use and are quite often used in our regular conversations.

But, since both the words express deep feelings of an individual in respect to another, people often get confused while using them. This article will discuss the meaning of the individual words and the difference between the two words.

Empathy vs Sympathy

What is Empathy?

Empathy is the capability of understanding the feelings of other people emotionally. It is the ability to be able to see and imagine situations from the perspective of other people.

The feeling of empathy encompasses a broad range of phenomena:

  • Caring for other people.
  • Having the desire to help other people, understanding and experiencing other people’s emotions.
  • Making the differences between an individual and another person less distinct.

Origin of Empathy

Empathy is originated from the Greek language. This word is derived from a Greek word known as empatheia, which means physical affection. The word empatheia is also derived from Greek words, namely, en and pathos. The word en signifies in or at, whereas the word pathos means feelings.

Robert Vischer and Hermann Lotze together created the term Einfühlung. It is a German term, and they adapted it from the above terms. It means feeling into.

In the year 1909, Edward B. Titchener coined the term empathy by translating Einfühlung into English.

Using the Word Empathy In Sentences As Examples

  1. Donna shared a deep empathy with her pet dogs.
  2. To express empathy, Derek often apologizes even when he is not at fault.
  3. Since Tiffany has a strong sense of empathy, her friends often tell her to seek a marriage counselor career.
  4. One of the good traits all human beings should possess is having empathy towards one another.

What is Sympathy?

Sympathy is the ability to understand and feel sorrow and pity for someone else’s misfortune. It is the reaction to the agony of another form of life. Sympathy is also the understanding between people, a familiar feeling.

The most transparent medium for expressing the feeling of sympathy is verbal communication. People can express sympathy by addressing the emotions being felt by themselves and others involved and acknowledging the current environmental conditions for why sympathy would be appropriate.

Origin of Sympathy

Sympathy is originated from the Greek language. This word is derived from the French word sympathie, again derived from a Latin word, namely, sympathia. This Latin word is further derived from a Greek word known as sympatheia. Finally, this word is derived from two Greek words, namely, sym and pathos. The word sym signifies together, whereas the word pathos means feelings.

The use of the term sympathy was first recorded in the 16th century. It was around 1560-70 that the word was first used. The word empathy is often confused with sympathy even though the terms having different meanings.

Using the Word Sympathy In Sentences As Examples

  1. The political leader firmly asked the audience not to vote for him out of sympathy.
  2. When he was fighting cancer, expressions of sympathy flooded in from all his friends and relatives.
  3. Jan sighed and said that she wished Jacob would show her a little more sympathy.
  4. The pleas of hundreds of people failed to engage any sympathy.

Empathy vs Sympathy

Empathy is the ability to emotionally understanding the feelings and emotions of other people.

The term empathy means projecting our feelings onto another object.

Sympathy is the capability of feeling sorrow and pity for someone else’s misfortune.

The term sympathy is used regarding taste and opinions.

Difference Between Empathy And Sympathy

Point of difference Empathy Sympathy
Terms of origination En and Pathos Sym and Pathos
First surfaced around Beginning of the 20th century, in the year 1909 Middle of the 16th century, about 1560s-1570s
Definition Empathy is the capability of understanding the feelings of other people emotionally. Sympathy is the ability to understand and feel sorrow and pity for someone else’s misfortune.
Examples John made Emily understand that right now, David needs her empathy and appreciation more than anything else. Sofia felt a pang of sympathy after knowing the condition of Mr. Arnold.

 

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