Expressing Sympathy

Sympathy is used to show our feeling when our family, friends and colleagues experience something bad or go through a terrible situation. It is almost has the same purpose with expressing condolence.

Here are some expressions to show our sympathy to other people:

• Oh, I am sorry to hear that.
• That’s too bad.
• What a pity of you!
• Be patient, it would be better soon.
• I take my sympathy to you.
• I sympathize with your condition.
• I know how your feeling is.
• You must be very upset.
• Oh, poor Jane. What happened to her?
• Please accept my condolence.
• What a pity
• That's awful
• Oh, that's dreadful
• That's too bad
• What a shame/That's a shame
• Oh, poor you
• How terrible
• How upsetting/How annoying
• Oh no, sorry to hear that
• I know how you feel
• Oh dear, I am awfully sorry
• I am extremely sorry to hear that
• I am deeply sorry to hear that
• I am deeply upset to hear that
• What a terrible situation for you
• I do sympathize
• You have my deepest sympathy at this difficult time
• You have my sincere condolences
• Please accept my heartfelt condolences

Here are some responses to accept sympathy from other people :

o   I hope so.

o   It’s very kind of you.

o   That’s a pity, isn’t it?

o   Thanks for your sympathy.

o   Thanks for your support.

o   I would be OK, thank you very much for your support.

o   Thank you for your concern.

o   Thank you so much.

Here are some dialogues of showing sympathy

Dialogue1

Aris       : I've got headache this morning.
Mariam : what a pity.
Aris       : I will absent today.

Dialogue2

Danu       : Sorry Sir. I am a bit late. Let me explain to you why I am late
Mr. Arya : What happened ?
Danu       : My father got an accident 2 days ago and he was hospitalized
Mr. Arya : I am deeply sorry to hear that. How is your father now?
Danu       : He is getting better, Sir. But last night, my mom was also taken to hospital.
                  She suffered from high blood pressure
Mr. Arya : What a terrible situation for you
Danu       : Thank you, Sir. So last night I had to stay in the hospital the whole night.
                  That's why I am late today
Mr. Arya : That's all right, Danu. I know how you feel.

Dialogue 3

Jack    : Why are you in hurry Tina?
Tina    : I have to go to hospital now.
Jack    : Are you sick? You look okay.
Tina    : No, but my mother got an accident. A bus crashed her motor cycle on the way home.
Jack    : I am extremely sorry to hear that, I hope your mother will be okay soon.
Tina    : Okay, thanks.

Dialogue 4

Anna   : Why do you look so sad?
Vina    : I lost my mobile phone.
Anna   : What a pity of you! When did it happen?
Vina    : It happened when I went to railroad station to buy a ticket yesterday.
Anna   : Have you contacted your mobile phone number?
Vina    : I have contacted several times, but it seems my mobile phone number is not active.

Anna   : What a terrible situation for you
Vina    : Thanks for your advice. I will try it later.