empathy
Meaning: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, putting oneself in their emotional position.
Empathy is distinguished from sympathy: empathy involves feeling with someone, whilst sympathy involves feeling for them. Psychologists identify cognitive empathy (understanding another's perspective) and affective empathy (sharing their emotions). The concept is central to counselling, leadership training, and social psychology. A lack of empathy is associated with narcissistic and antisocial personality traits.
Examples
- Good doctors combine clinical expertise with genuine empathy for their patients' experiences. 优秀的医生将临床专业知识与对患者经历的真正共情相结合。Los buenos médicos combinan la competencia clínica con una empatía genuina hacia las experiencias de sus pacientes.優れた医師は臨床的専門知識と患者の経験に対する真の共感を兼ね備えている。훌륭한 의사는 임상적 전문 지식과 환자의 경험에 대한 진정한 공감을 겸비하고 있다.
- The novel's strength lies in its ability to generate empathy for characters from vastly different backgrounds. 这部小说的力量在于它能让读者对来自截然不同背景的人物产生共情。La fuerza de la novela reside en su capacidad para generar empatía hacia personajes de orígenes muy distintos.この小説の強みは、まったく異なる背景を持つ登場人物に対する共感を読者に呼び起こす点にある。이 소설의 강점은 전혀 다른 배경을 가진 등장인물들에 대한 공감을 불러일으키는 능력에 있다.
- Teaching empathy to children from an early age can reduce bullying and improve social relationships. 从小教导孩子共情可以减少霸凌行为并改善社会关系。Enseñar empatía a los niños desde temprana edad puede reducir el acoso escolar y mejorar las relaciones sociales.幼い頃から子どもに共感を教えることで、いじめを減らし社会的な人間関係を改善することができる。어린 나이부터 아이들에게 공감을 가르치면 따돌림을 줄이고 사회적 관계를 개선할 수 있다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, professional, general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From German Einfühlung (feeling into), translated into English as empathy in 1909 by psychologist Edward Titchener, from Greek empatheia (passion, affection), from em- (in) and pathos (feeling).
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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