system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How do you explain the difference between sympathizing with someone and empathizing with someone?
gpt
Sympathy is the act of understanding someone else's emotions. Empathy is feeling those emotions yourself.

For example, if a friend's parent recently passed away you might feel sympathy if you understand that they are sad. But, if you also had a parent pass away you can remember the same feelings you had at that time. So, you can empathize with the person because you feel (or have felt) the same way they do.