Translation guide
The English word "sympathy" covers several related but distinct concepts in Japanese. The most common and natural ways to express sympathy depend on whether you mean feeling sorry for someone's misfortune, offering condolences, understanding someone's feelings, or being in agreement with a cause.
Expressing that you feel pity or sorrow for someone's difficult situation.
The most direct translation for feeling sympathy or pity for someone's hardship. It can sound a bit formal or detached, so it's often used in serious contexts.
彼の状況に同情します。
I sympathize with his situation.
to offer words of sympathy
A more everyday, heartfelt way to say you feel sorry for someone. It implies you think their situation is unfortunate and you feel for them.
それは気の毒に思います。
I feel sorry about that.
彼女の話を聞いて気の毒になった。
I felt sympathy after hearing her story.
A set phrase used to express sympathy directly to someone, similar to "I'm sorry to hear that" or "That's too bad." It's polite and commonly used in conversation.
お気の毒に。何かお手伝いできることはありますか？
I'm sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do to help?
Expresses pity or sympathy, often with a nuance of "poor thing." It can sound slightly condescending if used about adults, so it's safer for children, animals, or very pitiable situations.
Using かわいそう about an adult can sound patronizing. Use 気の毒 or 同情 for more neutral sympathy.
捨てられた子犬がかわいそうに思った。
I felt sorry for the abandoned puppy.
Expressing sympathy specifically when someone has died.
The standard formal expression of condolence. Used in writing or speaking to the bereaved.
心よりお悔やみ申し上げます。
Please accept my deepest sympathy.
A formal condolence phrase, often used at funerals or when meeting the bereaved. Slightly less stiff than お悔やみ申し上げます but still very polite.
この度はご愁傷様です。
My sympathy on your loss.
The general term for words of condolence. Used in phrases like "to offer one's condolences."
お悔やみの言葉を述べる
to express one's sympathy
Expressing that you understand and perhaps share someone's emotional state, similar to empathy.
Means to empathize or feel the same emotion. It's about sharing feelings, not just feeling sorry for someone. Often used for positive or neutral emotions too.
彼の意見に共感した。
I sympathized with his opinion.
その話に深く共感しました。
I deeply sympathized with that story.
A very natural, everyday way to say you understand how someone feels. It implies emotional understanding and is less formal than 共感する.
あなたの気持ちがわかります。
I understand how you feel. / I sympathize with you.
彼が怒る気持ちもわかる。
I can sympathize with his anger.
Literally "to project one's emotions into," this is a more psychological term for empathy, often used about characters in stories.
主人公に感情移入して泣いてしまった。
I sympathized with the main character and ended up crying.
Expressing that you are in agreement with or support a particular idea, movement, or group.
Means to agree with or endorse an opinion or plan. It's about intellectual agreement and support.
彼の提案に賛同します。
I sympathize with his proposal.
To support or back a person, group, or cause. Stronger than 賛同, implying active backing.
その運動を支持する。
I sympathize with that movement.
To go along with or align oneself with someone's opinion or action. Can imply conformity as well as sympathy.
彼の考えに同調する人は少ない。
Few people sympathize with his ideas.
同情 (どうじょう) is sympathy in the sense of feeling pity or compassion for someone's misfortune. 共感 (きょうかん) is empathy, sharing the same feeling. If a friend is sad, 同情 means you feel sorry for them; 共感 means you feel sad too because you understand their sadness.
In casual English, we often say 'I sympathize' to mean 'I understand how you feel.' In Japanese, directly saying 同情します can sound overly formal or distant. Instead, use 気持ちがわかる or 共感する for a warmer, more natural expression.
あなたのいらだちはよくわかります。
I can sympathize with your frustration.
Natural way to express understanding of feelings.