Korean word

동정하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationtongjeonghada

Meaning

  • verbsympathize

Example

그의 사정을 듣고 동정했어요.keu ui sa jeong eul teut kko tong jeong hae sseo yo

After hearing about his situation, I sympathized with him.

Illustration for 동정하다 (sympathize)

More examples

길에서 넘어져 있는 사람을 보고 동정해서 도와줬어요.ki re seo neo meo jeo in neun sa ra meul po go tong jeong hae seo to wa jwo sseo yo

Seeing someone who had fallen in the street, I sympathized with them and helped them.

Core concept

Responding to another person's trouble with heartfelt concern and sadness.

Common phrases

  • 약자를 동정하다yak jja reul tong jeong ha da

    sympathize with the disadvantaged

  • 사람을 동정하다sa ra meul tong jeong ha da

    sympathize with someone

Similar words

공감하다konggamhada: To share another person's feelings or experience through a sense of personal connection.
동감하다tonggamhada: To agree with another person's view or way of thinking.
불쌍히 여기다pulssanghi yeogida: To regard someone as unfortunate and feel pity for them.

Definition in Korean

다른 사람의 고통이나 곤란을 보고 안타까워하며 마음아파하는 감정을 나타내는 말로, 주로 '동정하다'라는 동사 형태로 쓰인다.ta reun sa ra mui ko tong i na kol la neul po go an ta kka wo ha myeo ma eu ma pa ha neun kam jeong eul na ta nae neun mal lo chu ro tong jeong ha da ra neun tong sa hyeong tae ro sseu in da

Word origin

The Sino-Korean noun 동정 (dongjeong, "sympathy") combines with 하다 (hada, "to do"), forming a verb meaning to show sympathy.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, the word may sound more emotionally involved than a neutral statement of understanding, making it useful for expressing genuine concern.

Other meanings

  • feel sorry forverb
  • pityverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 동정심tongjeongsimsympathynoun
  • 동정tongjeongsympathynoun
  • 동정적tongjeongjeoksympatheticadjective

Word lists with this word