What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

Question

whitemonsterbunny17 · Answer

Sympathy is like "Oh, I'm sorry about that" or "My condolences" 
Empathy is to put emphasis on what you say.. "Oh, good!" "I'm glad!" etc..

whitemonsterbunny17 · Answer

Does that make sense? (:

anonymous · Answer

Yea. I always thought that sympathy was feeling badly for someone and empathy was the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes.

anonymous · Answer

Empathy is like "i feel u", sympathy is like "that sucks bro" So yes you are correct. The first paragraph of the wiki page of sympathy also goes into the difference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathy

whitemonsterbunny17 · Answer

Haha thanks. :p
At work, I'm a lifeguard so we have these tests called "audits", and these exact questions are on our audits haha, so I know a bit about sympathy and empathy... it's all about customer service lol. xD

anonymous · Answer

So true.

whitemonsterbunny17 · Answer

Yeah haha, and if our answers were helpful, don't forget to close the question. (: