Pity and compassion are often used interchangeably, but there's a subtle yet important difference between them. Pity is a feeling of sorrow and sympathy for someone else's suffering, often from a position of superiority. It can imply that the sufferer is somehow weak or flawed. Compassion, on the other hand, is a deeper feeling of empathy and understanding. It's a feeling of sharing the suffering with the other person and wanting to alleviate their pain. Compassion motivates action, while pity often doesn't.

Here are some example sentences to illustrate the difference:

• Pity: "I felt pity for the beggar on the street." (Meaning: I felt sorry for the beggar, but didn't necessarily want to help). Translation: I felt sorry for the beggar on the street, but I did nothing to help him.

• Compassion: "I felt compassion for the refugees and donated to the relief effort." (Meaning: I deeply understood and shared their suffering, which led me to take action). Translation: I deeply understood and shared the refugees' suffering, which moved me to donate to the relief effort.

• Pity: "She looked at him with pity." (Meaning: She felt sorry for him, perhaps feeling superior to him). Translation: She felt sorry for him, perhaps feeling superior to him.

• Compassion: "She felt compassion for the animals and volunteered at the animal shelter." (Meaning: She felt a deep understanding of the animals' suffering and was driven to help them.) Translation: She felt a deep understanding of the animals' suffering and was driven to help them.

Notice how pity often suggests a distance between the observer and the sufferer, while compassion implies a connection and a desire to help.

Happy learning!