what is the difference between empathy and sympathy?

"empathy" means I feel "with" you. "sympathy" means I feel "for" you.

Empathy, implies that the speaker has suffered similar fate.

Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone. Empathy is putting yourself in the shoes of the other person.

empathy is when you put yourself in the person's shoes, meaning that you experienced something similar and you can relate to what the person is going through. Sympathy is when you feel sorry, happy, etc. that a certain situation happened to the person and you can somewhat relate to the experience they are experiencing, even though you haven't experienced what the person has/is going through.

Empathy=Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives. .

sympathy=

The act or power of sharing the feelings of another.

A feeling or an expression of pity or sorrow for the distress of another; compassion or commiseration.

Regarding Twisty's answer:

I think you're mistaking empathy (concern for a situation you can identify with personally) for APATHY (not caring). Sympathy is when you feel for the person, but don't REALLY know what it's like cuz you haven't been thru it.

Empathy: when you can feel what the other person's going through (prob cuz you've gone through it)

Sympathy: when you feel sorry for someone

Sympathy is when you can view another's plight with sorrow without necessarily understanding it. Empathy is when you relate to the other's feelings so keenly you feel their grief as if it were your own.

empathy is sorrow you can relate to because you have been through it before. sympathy is just feeling sorry for someone.

Empathy- You experiencing the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another person.

Sympathy- You having compassion and feeling sorry for another person.

Empathy: "Oh, that hurts just to think about it."

Sympathy: "Oh, that must really hurt."