Korean word

연민

Pronunciation

Romanizationyeonmin

Meaning

  • nouncompassion

Example

그 아이를 보고 연민이 생겼다.keu a i reul po go yeon mi ni saeng gyeot tta

I felt compassion for the child when I saw them.

Illustration for 연민 (compassion)

More examples

그의 실수를 보고 연민이 아니라 경멸을 느꼈다.keu ui sil su reul po go yeon mi ni a ni ra kyeong myeo reul neu kkyeot tta

When I saw his mistake, I felt contempt rather than compassion.

Core concept

A heavy-hearted response to another person's suffering, combining sorrow with humane concern.

Common phrases

  • 연민이 생기다yeon mi ni saeng gi da

    feel compassion

  • 연민에 찬 표정yeon mi ne chan pyo jeong

    compassionate expression

  • 연민을 불러일으키다yeon mi neul pul leo i reu ki da

    arouse compassion

Similar words

공감konggam: A feeling of sharing another person's emotions by understanding their experience.
동정심tongjeongsim: A sympathetic feeling that makes a person want to help someone in trouble.
불쌍함pulssangham: A feeling that someone or something is pitiable and in a miserable state.
측은함cheugeunham: A tender feeling of heartache for another person's difficult circumstances.

Definition in Korean

어떤 사람이나 상황의 고통을 보고 마음이 아파 함께 불쌍히 여기는 감정.eo tteon sa ra mi na sang hwang ui ko tong eul po go ma eu mi a pa ham kke pul ssang hi yeo gi neun kam jeong

Word origin

It is a Sino-Korean compound whose two historical elements both express feeling sorrow for someone, reinforcing the sense of compassion.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often hear compassion as a call to help, but this Korean noun can focus more on the feeling stirred by another person's suffering.

Other meanings

  • pitynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 연민심yeonminsimcompassionnoun

Word lists with this word