tóngqíngxīn: 同情心 - Sympathy, Compassion

• Keywords: tóngqíngxīn, 同情心, sympathy in Chinese, compassion in Chinese, how to say sympathy in Chinese, tóng qíng xīn, Chinese word for compassion, empathy vs sympathy Chinese, feeling sorry for someone in Chinese, HSK 5
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese noun 同情心 (tóngqíngxīn), which translates to “sympathy” or “compassion.” This page breaks down the characters 同 (same), 情 (feeling), and 心 (heart) to reveal its literal meaning: a “same-feeling-heart.” Discover its cultural importance, how to use it in everyday conversation, and how it differs from the Western concepts of empathy and pity. This guide is perfect for beginners looking to express deeper emotions and understand key social values in Chinese culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tóngqíngxīn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The inherent quality of having a heart that feels pity and sorrow for the misfortunes of others; compassion.
• In a Nutshell: 同情心 (tóngqíngxīn) is the fundamental capacity to feel for someone else, especially when they are suffering. It literally translates to a “same-feeling-heart.” Imagine seeing someone fall and feeling a pang of sorrow *for* them—that feeling is 同情心. It's considered a deeply positive and essential human trait in Chinese society.

• 同 (tóng): Meaning “same,” “alike,” or “together.” It depicts a group of people speaking with one voice or sharing a common space.
• 情 (qíng): Meaning “feeling,” “emotion,” or “sentiment.” The left part (忄) is a variation of the heart radical (心), indicating it's related to emotions. The right part (青) provides the sound.
• 心 (xīn): Meaning “heart” or “mind.” This is a pictograph of the human heart and is central to countless Chinese words related to thoughts, feelings, and intentions.

When combined, 同 (same) + 情 (feeling) + 心 (heart) creates 同情心 (tóngqíngxīn), a powerful and intuitive term for having a “heart that feels the same” as someone in distress, leading to sympathy and compassion.

同情心 is a cornerstone of interpersonal relationships and social morality in China. It is deeply connected to the Confucian concept of 仁 (rén), which translates to “benevolence,” “humaneness,” or “goodness.” A person who embodies 仁 is expected to naturally possess and exhibit 同情心. Expressing sympathy is not just a personal feeling; it's a social glue that helps maintain harmony and shows respect. Comparison: Sympathy vs. Empathy (同情心 vs. 同理心) In English, there's a growing distinction between “sympathy” (feeling for someone) and “empathy” (feeling with someone, as if you're in their shoes).

• 同情心 (tóngqíngxīn) aligns most closely with sympathy. It is almost exclusively a reaction to another's negative experiences—pain, loss, hardship, or misfortune. You feel sorry for their situation.
• The Chinese word that better captures “empathy” is 同理心 (tónglǐxīn), which means “same-reasoning-heart.” This implies a deeper cognitive and emotional understanding of someone's perspective, whether their situation is good or bad.

While a person with 同情心 is seen as kind, a person with 同理心 is seen as a truly great listener and friend. For a beginner, mastering 同情心 is the first crucial step.

同情心 is a common and important term in daily life.

• Complimenting Someone: Describing someone as `有同情心 (yǒu tóngqíngxīn)` (has compassion) is a high compliment. It suggests they are kind, warm-hearted, and a good person.
• Reacting to Bad News: When a friend tells you about a difficult situation, you can express your feelings by saying `我真同情你 (wǒ zhēn tóngqíng nǐ)` (I really sympathize with you). Note that here you use the verb/noun `同情`, not the quality `同情心`.
• Social Commentary: News reports about natural disasters, poverty, or social injustices will often appeal to the public's 同情心 to encourage donations or social action.
• Negative Connotation: While having 同情心 is good, it can be exploited. The phrase `滥用同情心 (lànyòng tóngqíngxīn)` means “to abuse/exploit someone's sympathy,” often used to describe scammers or professional beggars.

• Example 1:
  • 她是一个富有同情心的护士。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yí ge fùyǒu tóngqíngxīn de hùshi.
  • English: She is a nurse full of compassion.
  • Analysis: This is a common way to describe someone's character. `富有 (fùyǒu)` means “to be rich in,” which pairs beautifully with 同情心.
• Example 2:
  • 看到那些无家可归的人，我的同情心油然而生。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào nàxiē wújiākěguī de rén, wǒ de tóngqíngxīn yóurán'érshēng.
  • English: Seeing those homeless people, my compassion arose spontaneously.
  • Analysis: `油然而生 (yóurán'érshēng)` is a fantastic four-character idiom (chengyu) meaning “to arise spontaneously,” often used for feelings like respect, admiration, or sympathy.
• Example 3:
  • 你怎么一点同情心都没有？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zěnme yìdiǎn tóngqíngxīn dōu méiyǒu?
  • English: How can you have no sympathy at all?
  • Analysis: A common rhetorical question used to criticize someone for being cold or heartless. `一点都(不/没)… (yìdiǎn dōu bù/méi)` is a key grammar pattern for “not at all.”
• Example 4:
  • 出于同情心，我决定帮助他。
  • Pinyin: Chūyú tóngqíngxīn, wǒ juédìng bāngzhù tā.
  • English: Out of compassion, I decided to help him.
  • Analysis: `出于… (chūyú…)` means “out of (a motive)…” or “stemming from…” It's a slightly more formal way to state your reason for doing something.
• Example 5:
  • 别想利用我的同情心！
  • Pinyin: Bié xiǎng lìyòng wǒ de tóngqíngxīn!
  • English: Don't even think about taking advantage of my compassion!
  • Analysis: `利用 (lìyòng)` means “to make use of” or “to exploit.” This sentence shows the negative context where someone might try to manipulate you.
• Example 6:
  • 同情心是人类最宝贵的品质之一。
  • Pinyin: Tóngqíngxīn shì rénlèi zuì bǎoguì de pǐnzhì zhīyī.
  • English: Compassion is one of humanity's most precious qualities.
  • Analysis: A great example of using 同情心 in a more philosophical or abstract statement. `…之一 (…zhīyī)` means “one of…”
• Example 7:
  • 他的故事博得了所有人的同情。
  • Pinyin: Tā de gùshi bódéle suǒyǒurén de tóngqíng.
  • English: His story won everyone's sympathy.
  • Analysis: Note the use of `同情 (tóngqíng)` here as the noun “sympathy.” `博得 (bódé)` means “to win” or “to earn” (respect, sympathy, applause).
• Example 8:
  • 我很同情他的遭遇，但他不值得我的同情心。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hěn tóngqíng tā de zāoyù, dàn tā bù zhídé wǒ de tóngqíngxīn.
  • English: I sympathize with his misfortune, but he doesn't deserve my compassion.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly highlights the difference between the verb `同情` (to sympathize) and the noun `同情心` (the quality of compassion).
• Example 9:
  • 有同情心是好事，但不要泛滥。
  • Pinyin: Yǒu tóngqíngxīn shì hǎoshì, dàn búyào fànlàn.
  • English: Having compassion is a good thing, but don't let it run rampant.
  • Analysis: `泛滥 (fànlàn)` means “to overflow” or “to run rampant.” This is a caution against being overly sentimental or letting your sympathy cloud your judgment.
• Example 10:
  • 培养孩子的同情心非常重要。
  • Pinyin: Péiyǎng háizi de tóngqíngxīn fēicháng zhòngyào.
  • English: Cultivating a child's sense of compassion is extremely important.
  • Analysis: `培养 (péiyǎng)` means “to cultivate” or “to foster,” often used for developing skills, habits, or positive traits like this one.

• Mistake 1: Confusing `同情心` and `同情`
  • `同情心 (tóngqíngxīn)` is a noun referring to the quality or trait of compassion. (e.g., “He has compassion.” - 他有同情心。)
  • `同情 (tóngqíng)` can be a verb (“to sympathize with”) or a noun (“sympathy”). (e.g., “I sympathize with you.” - 我同情你。)
  • Incorrect: `我同情心你。` (Wǒ tóngqíngxīn nǐ.)
  • Correct: `我同情你。` (Wǒ tóngqíng nǐ.) or `我对你很有同情心。` (Wǒ duì nǐ hěn yǒu tóngqíngxīn.)
• Mistake 2: Using it for Positive Feelings
  • 同情心 is reserved for reacting to negative situations (sadness, pain, misfortune). You would not use it to share someone's joy. If your friend gets a promotion, you feel `开心 (kāixīn)` for them, not `同情心`.
• Mistake 3: Confusing it with “Pity” (`可怜`)
  • While related, `同情心` is a noble quality. `可怜 (kělián)` means “pitiful” or “pathetic.” Calling someone `可怜` can sometimes imply you are looking down on them. Saying `我同情你` (I sympathize with you) is generally more respectful than saying `你真可怜` (You are so pitiful), though the latter is also common among close friends.

• 同情 (tóngqíng) - The verb “to sympathize” or the noun “sympathy.” The direct action or feeling, whereas 同情心 is the underlying trait.
• 同理心 (tónglǐxīn) - The closest word for “empathy.” The ability to understand someone's situation from their perspective, not just feel sorry for them.
• 爱心 (àixīn) - “Loving heart.” A broader term for love and kindness, often used in the context of charity, volunteering, or caring for children and animals.
• 善良 (shànliáng) - An adjective meaning “kind-hearted.” A person who is `善良` is very likely to have `同情心`.
• 可怜 (kělián) - An adjective for “pitiful” or “pathetic.” It describes the state of the person who evokes your `同情心`.
• 关心 (guānxīn) - “To be concerned about,” “to care for.” This is the action of showing you care, which might be motivated by `同情心`.
• 怜悯 (liánmǐn) - “Pity,” “mercy.” A more formal and slightly stronger term than `同情`, it can sometimes imply a power dynamic (pity for someone weaker).
• 仁慈 (réncí) - “Benevolence,” “mercy.” A very formal term, often used to describe the kindness of a ruler, a god, or a person in a position of great power.