empathetic
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empathetic
Having the ability to understand other people's feelings and thoughts and to respond to them considerately.
Sie ist eine sehr einfühlsame Freundin und hört immer gut zu.
She is a very empathetic friend and always listens well.
The adjective is built in a very vivid way: 'ein-fühl-sam'. It describes the ability to 'hinein-fühlen' (feel one's way into) other people. The ending '-sam' expresses a quality or ability.
Durch seine einfühlsame Art konnte er das Kind schnell beruhigen.
Through his empathetic manner, he was able to calm the child quickly.
'Einfühlsam' (empathetic) belongs to the word family of 'fühlen' (to feel). The related noun is 'das Einfühlungsvermögen' (empathy), which refers to the ability to empathize.
Gute Ärzte brauchen nicht nur Fachwissen, sondern auch viel Einfühlungsvermögen.
Good doctors need not only specialist knowledge, but also a great deal of empathy.
'Einfühlsam' (empathetic) often describes people or their actions. Typical combinations are 'ein einfühlsamer Mensch' (an empathetic person), 'ein einfühlsames Gespräch' (an empathetic conversation), or as an adverb: 'einfühlsam zuhören' (to listen empathetically) and 'einfühlsam reagieren' (to react empathetically).
Er hat sehr einfühlsam auf meine Sorgen reagiert.
He responded very empathetically to my worries.
understanding
Verständnisvoll and einfühlsam both describe dealing well with other people's feelings. Verständnisvoll emphasizes accepting someone's difficult situation and responding supportively. Einfühlsam places more emphasis on recognizing the other person's thoughts and feelings and adapting one's response accordingly.
Lea bemerkt die unausgesprochene Traurigkeit ihrer Freundin und findet einfühlsame Worte.
Lea notices her friend's unspoken sadness and finds empathetic words.
Lea reagiert verständnisvoll, als ihre traurige Freundin das Treffen kurzfristig absagt.
Lea responds understandingly when her sad friend cancels the meeting at short notice.
