compassion
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compassion
The ability and willingness to empathize with another person's feelings (especially suffering) and to share in them.
Sie zeigte großes Mitgefühl für die Familie, die ihr Zuhause verloren hatte.
She showed great compassion for the family that had lost their home.
'Mitgefühl' (compassion) is a very logical word. It consists of the preposition 'mit' (with) and the noun 'Gefühl' (feeling). So it describes the feeling that you share 'with' another person.
Sein Mitgefühl half ihr in der schweren Zeit.
His compassion helped her during the difficult time.
To express whom one feels compassion toward, the prepositions 'für' (for, with accusative) or 'mit' (with, with dative) are used.
Ich habe großes Mitgefühl für die Betroffenen der Flutkatastrophe.
I have great compassion for those affected by the flood disaster.
'Mitgefühl' (compassion) is often combined with verbs that express showing or having this feeling. Typical phrases are 'Mitgefühl haben' (to have compassion), 'Mitgefühl zeigen' (to show compassion), and 'Mitgefühl empfinden' (to feel compassion).
In dieser Situation ist es wichtig, Mitgefühl zu zeigen.
In this situation, it is important to show compassion.
suffering
'das Leid' (suffering) and 'das Mitgefühl' (compassion) are closely connected, but they are on different sides of a situation. 'Leid' is the pain or sorrow that someone experiences. 'Mitgefühl' is the ability or willingness to feel that pain in another person and share in it. Learners may confuse the words because compassion often arises from suffering. But you say: Someone experiences 'Leid', and another person shows 'Mitgefühl'.
Mitgefühl ist wichtig, wenn ein Kollege eine schwere Zeit hat.
Compassion is important when a colleague is going through a difficult time.
Sie hat nach der Krankheit viel Leid erlebt.
She experienced a lot of suffering after the illness.