同情

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 同情 is read as どうじょう and means sympathy or compassion.
• Basic usage: It can describe sympathy felt after hearing someone’s circumstances or contrast sympathy alone with practical support.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Feeling deep sympathy
  • 同情を覚える means developing deep sympathy while hearing about her circumstances. Example: 事情を聞くうちに彼女へ深い同情を覚えた。
• Going beyond sympathy
  • 同情するだけでなく calls for considering needed support instead of stopping at sympathy. Example: 同情するだけでなく必要な支援を考えよう。