So, after constant racism over the centuries, we can now shut them up when they've been complaining for a few years by saying they are over playing their racism card. I think they can bang on about it for a couple of decades more tbh.

Wolli, when something unfortunate happens to somebody, it's common courtesy in English, to say "I'm sorry....etc"
I've noticed that it's not done in German or French.

In CH-German it is "äxgüsi" or "...tschulidgung" , in French it is "Pardon", with the "pardon" (French pronouncing) also is used by CH-Germans. I hear these expressions all the time all over the country.

But you might specify what you mean by "something unfortunate happens to somebody"

What I think Sky means is that in English-speaking cultures when someone mentions that something negative occurred to them, people show sympathy (with varying degrees of sincerity, depending on circumstances and the individuals involved) by saying "I'm sorry (this happened to you)".

It's a different use than Sorry/äxgüsi/pardon/scusi/tschulidgung (which are used typically when you might have done - or are about to do - something which you feel may trouble/may have troubled the person you're talking to)

English has "Sorry", German has "Schadenfreude".


I guess "Sorry" is more synonymous with "Es tut mir leid" than "Entschulidgung".

I have heard "Es tut mir soooo Leid..." when someone has been expressing sympathy.

"Entschuldigung" is more for excusing yourself when you are at fault (or similar).

What I would like to know is which word do you use immediately after a burp or other unfortunate bodily noise?

Empathy is more freely expressed in some cultures than others. Whether it is felt equally or not is another matter. I like to think at a base level every human is born with a certain innate empathy towards fellow beings and I suspect this is true - but it certainly helps when such feelings are encouraged by society.

Really?

= get out of my way... (in Basel, at any rate)

"Sorry"?

It's what the locals use around here anyway...

Including a subset of individuals who say "sorry" when in fact what they feel is Schadenfreude.

OK, it's better than "Whoaaa, GET THAT!"

Riechen Sie das!

This post has actually just reminded me about the difference between sympathy and empathy. Definitions may vary, but I've recently read a book which explained them in the following terms (I'm rephrasing and simplifying, I don't remember the actual quote):

Sympathy: person A has a problem or is in pain. Person B can relate and they share the pain - they essentially feel bad together.

Empathy: person A has a problem or is in pain. Person B can relate/understands A's problem/pain and wants to do something to alleviate it

Interesting enough I have found sources that define these terms the other way round, but I like this definition best because it's closer to how I perceive them.
(For the sake of curiosity the book in question is The Survivor Personality, by Al Siebert).

Back to topic now...

See, I'd go more towards the opposite too.

Sympathy is pity or sorrow. You don't necessarily have to understand or share what they're going through. I would have sympathy for a woman who miscarried her child, but I could never fully share what they are feeling.

Empathy is much more understanding and sharing the feelings of another, and isn't necessarily negative. I can empathise with a newcomer to Switzerland trying to find his feet (and brown sugar). I can empathise with somebody that wants to retire to North Yorkshire.

I'm confused. My impression is that the definition you give corresponds to the one I quoted... (I think you phrased it better, though ) At any rate I think you pinpointed an important distinction between the two terms (and corresponding feelings), with which I strongly agree.

Yup.... exactly what I meant.
Thank you

Or, "Oh bollocks, I think I just followed through"

Can you educated bloody lot take your English language conversations elsewhere?? I want to hear more rants about bad tram experiences/whinges/gripes etc. I like hearing of other's misery.....

OK, just for you then... (although it is a tiny bit funny).

My husband and I were sat on the tram a while back when a blind guy we regularly see in the area gets on with his white cane. My husband noticed that the bottom section of the cane was over extended and sticking out at a bit of an angle.

Being the helpful type, he asked the guy if he asked him if he wanted him to straighten it. "Thank you, yes!" came the reply, followed by lots of gratitude and how kind people are.

My husband wrestled with the cane for a few seconds when suddenly - SNAP, the cane broke about two-thirds of the way down.

Awkward silence then the blind guy, sensing all was not right, had a quick feel of the cane. When encountering the splintered stump, said "It's okay, I was on my way to my specialist anyway."

Not sure who was more miserable - guy with the broken cane or my husband for ruining the poor guy's day.

Oops.

Though when I re-tell the story, your husband will have accidentally killed the man's guide dog while trying to straighten its wonky neck.

Unfortunately, the man hadn't noticed the dog had already been dead for quite some time and couldn't understand why it was dawdling so.