Eli5: what is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

Question

People have tried explaining it to me before and I never really understood the difference. I’m hoping a simple explanation will help.

In: 25

Answer 1

Empathy if feeling another person’s emotions. If a friends mother dies, and you are in anguish over their loss, that is empathy.

Sympathy is supportive and understanding another person’s emotion without you actually sharing that feeling. Someone’s pet dies, you can sympathise with their loss and offer support, even though you yourself do not experience the loss.