Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Sympathy" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "sympathy", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
同情
どうじょう (dōjō)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
共感
きょうかん (kyōkan)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "sympathy" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 同情 and 共感.
In Japanese, 同情 (どうじょう (dōjō)) is typically associated with "sympathy; compassion; pity" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to having sympathy, compassion, or pity for someone in difficulty or distress. Can be used with する as a verb.
On the other hand, 共感 (きょうかん (kyōkan)) maps to "sympathy; empathy; mutual feeling" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to having sympathy, empathy, or sharing mutual feelings toward someone's opinion or situation. Can be used with する as a verb. A literal translation of "sympathy" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "同情"
彼の不幸な身の上話を聞いて、誰もが深く_______しました。
Hearing his unfortunate personal story, everyone deeply sympathized.
Bilingual Context for "共感"
彼の熱いスピーチは、会場にいたすべての聴衆の_______を呼び起こしました。
His passionate speech aroused the empathy of all the audience in the venue.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼の不幸な身の上話を聞いて、誰もが深く_______しました。" (Meaning: "Hearing his unfortunate personal story, everyone deeply sympathized.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "同情" fits here because it means "sympathy; compassion; pity" in the context of: "Hearing his unfortunate personal story, everyone deeply sympathized.". "共感" represents "sympathy; empathy; mutual feeling".