同情|どうじょうdoujou[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbsympathy; compassion; pity
   彼かれのことを同情どうじょうせずにはいられない。↗

   I cannot but feel sorry for him.

• Synonym思いやりおもいやりNeutralA noun for warm, positive care and consideration for others; 「同情」 is specifically sorrow at another's misfortune.
• Synonym哀れあわれNeutralA pitiable or sorrowful quality, as in 「哀れな姿」, also an exclamation; 「同情」 is actively feeling sorrow for another's misfortune.
• Synonym哀れむあわれむWrittenA written/formal verb meaning to pity, as in 「弱者を哀れむ」.
• Synonym慈悲じひWrittenOriginally a Buddhist term, now also general mercy and loving kindness, as in 「慈悲を乞う」; 「同情」 is feeling another's pain as one's own.
• Synonym情けなさけNeutralHuman kindness and pity toward others, as in 「情けをかける」.
• Synonym憐憫れんびんWrittenWritten/formal prose for pity, as in 「自己憐憫」; often carries a condescending or negative nuance.
• Synonym惻隠の情そくいんのじょうWrittenA set phrase with a classical flavor for the compassion one feels at another's suffering; written/formal prose.
• SynonymシンパシーNeutralA loanword for sympathy or feeling the same way; less common in everyday use than 「同情」 or 「共感」.
• Related共感きょうかんNeutralSharing or resonating with another's feelings or views, as in 「共感を呼ぶ」; not limited to misfortune, unlike 「同情」.
• Related情じょうNeutralCovers human feeling and warmth, and can also mean compassion, as in 「情に厚い」; broader than 「同情」.
• Related同感どうかんNeutralFeeling the same way or agreeing, as in 「全く同感だ」; involves no pity, unlike 「同情」.
• Related人情にんじょうNeutralHuman nature and everyday warmth, as in 「人情味あふれる」; broader than 「同情」.
• Related哀愍あいびんWrittenWritten/formal prose for pity and compassion; rare in modern usage — say 「同情」 or 「哀れみ」 in daily speech.
• Related哀れみあわれみNeutralPity for the weak, with a condescending feel, as in 「哀れみの目」; 「同情」 is sorrow at another's misfortune.
• Related不憫ふびんNeutralDescribes a person as pitiable, mostly children or the weak; the focus is on the object's plight, not the feeling.
• Relatedお情けおなさけNeutralPity given as charity or favor, often with a grudging nuance.
• Related憐情れんじょうWrittenWritten/formal prose for feelings of pity; rare in modern usage — use 「同情」 in everyday contexts.
• Related哀憐あいれんWrittenWritten/formal prose for pitying sorrow; rare today — say 「同情」 or 「哀れみ」 instead.
• Related同情心どうじょうしんNeutralThe disposition or capacity to feel sympathy, as in 「同情心が強い」; 「同情」 is the feeling itself.
• Related恕じょWrittenWritten/formal prose for forgiveness and consideration, with a Confucian flavor; rare in modern usage.
• Related愛憐あいれんWrittenWritten/formal prose for tender, loving pity; rare today — use 「同情」 in daily speech.
• Related憫察びんさつWrittenWritten/formal prose for recognizing and pitying another's hardship; mostly in polite letters and formal writing.
• Related弔慰ちょういWrittenCondolence and comfort for the bereaved, as in 「弔慰金」; limited to occasions of death.
• Antonym無関心むかんしんNeutralIndifference — no interest or concern shown; the direct opposite of 「同情」.
• Antonym冷酷れいこくNeutralColdheartedness and cruelty; the opposite of feeling sympathy for others.

Use 「同情」 for feeling sorrow at another's misfortune, as in 「同情を寄せる」. For warm care choose 「思いやり」; for sharing feelings 「共感」; for agreeing 「同感」. 「哀れみ」 and 「憐憫」 can sound condescending; 「不憫」 stresses the pitiable person; 「お情け」 is charity-like pity. 「同情心」 is the disposition; 「情け」「情」「人情」 human warmth; 「慈悲」 mercy; 「弔慰」 condolences. 「惻隠の情」「憫察」 are formal writing; 「哀愍」「憐情」「哀憐」「恕」「愛憐」 are rare today; 「シンパシー」 is a loanword; 「哀れむ」 is the written verb; 「哀れ」 names the pitiable state. Opposites: 「無関心」, 「冷酷」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 他人たにんの苦くるしみや悲かなしみに対たいし、同おなじ気持きもちになったつもりで思おもいやること。