Korean word

동병상련

Pronunciation

Romanizationtongbyeongsangnyeon

Meaning

  • nounfellow feeling

Example

서로 아픈 경험이 있어 동병상련을 느꼈다.seo ro a peun kyeong heo mi i sseo tong byeong sang nyeo neul neu kkyeot tta

We had both been through painful experiences, so we felt a fellow feeling for each other.

Illustration for 동병상련 (fellow feeling)

More examples

같은 처지를 겪어 동병상련이 생겼다.ka teun cheo ji reul kyeo kkeo tong byeong sang nyeo ni saeng gyeot tta

Having gone through the same circumstances, we developed sympathy for each other.

Core concept

People recognize their own struggles in one another and respond with mutual compassion.

Common phrases

  • 동병상련을 느끼다tong byeong sang nyeo neul neu kki da

    feel sympathy

  • 동병상련에 공감하다tong byeong sang nyeo ne kong gam ha da

    empathize with

Similar words

공감konggam: Understanding and sharing another person's feelings or thoughts.
동정tongjeong: Feeling sorry for someone in trouble and wanting to help.
연민yeonmin: Deep sorrow and concern for another person's suffering.
연대감yeondaegam: A sense of connection among people who share a position or problem and support one another.

Definition in Korean

같은 처지나 같은 어려움을 겪는 사람들끼리 서로 동정하거나 공감하는 상태를 이르는 말ka teun cheo ji na ka teun eo ryeo u meul kyeong neun sa ram deul kki ri seo ro tong jeong ha geo na kong gam ha neun sang tae reul i reu neun mal

Word origin

This Sino-Korean idiom developed from the image of people with the same illness pitying each other, then broadened to shared hardships.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, the expression can sound more literary than everyday wording, so it is especially useful for recognizing formal or dramatic language.

Opposites

Word lists with this word