Showing Sympathy

When someone near us or close to us is in a bad situation, like losing a member of family, being fired from a job, or experiencing an accident, we should show our sympathy to him/her. It will make him/her feel a lot better.

X: What is the matter with you Caroline?

Y: My father got a car accident last night and he is being hospitalised at Charitas Hospital now.

X: Oh, I am sorry to hear that. I hope it's not bad.

Y: He broke his right arm. The doctor said he will be okay after a couple of days.

X: Good.

Y: Thanks, Dillon. 

X: Dina, why do you look so sad?

Y: I lost the speech competition.

X: What a shame! You have practiced hard and your English is excellent.

Y: Thank you for your support, Ben. I guess I will have to prepare better next time.

The following are more expressions you can use to show sympathy:

bad/hard/tough luck

used for saying you are sorry that something bad has happened to someone

(oh,) what a shame

used for expressing sympathy or disappointment

too bad

used for saying that you are sorry or sympathetic about something

someone’s heart goes out to someone

used for saying that someone feels sorry for someone else

I know the feeling

used for showing sympathy

bless him/her/them

used for talking about someone in a loving or sympathetic way

I don’t envy you/him etc

used for saying that you would not like to do what someone else has to do

you can’t win them all/(you) win some, (you) lose some

used for showing sympathy to someone who has not been successful or for showing that you accept that you have not been successful

The following can be your responses when someone says sympathy to you:

Thank you very much
It’s very kind of you
I hope so
That’s a pity, isn’t it?
Thanks for your sympathy/support
I would be OK, thank you very much for your support

* In reference to macmillandictionary.com