empathy, sympathy

To feel empathy means "to understand another’s feelings or situation." When you feel empathy for others, you “stand in their shoes” and feel what they’re feeling.

If you show sympathy for another, you show compassion or “feel sorry” about the other person’s plight.

Example: Having been in a similar situation, he felt empathy for his former employee, but it was hard to feel sympathy for someone who had worked so little to accomplish anything.