Proverb / Kotowaza
同病相憐れむ
People who share the same sufferings or difficulties naturally sympathize with and comfort each other.
Those with the same illness pity one another.
Quick Answer
People who share the same sufferings or difficulties naturally sympathize with and comfort each other.
- Literal Image
- Those with the same illness pity one another.
- Closest Equivalent
- Misery loves company.
- How to Use It
- Used when describing people in similar unfortunate circumstances coming together for mutual support or comfort.
Meaning
Just as patients suffering from the same disease might offer each other sympathy, people facing similar hardships find a natural connection. This proverb describes how shared pain creates a bond that allows people to understand and console one another.
Literal Image
Those with the same illness pity one another.
Equivalent Proverbs
Misery loves company.
The English expression can imply that unhappy people want others to be unhappy too, whereas the Japanese proverb focuses on mutual comfort.
How to Use It
Used when describing people in similar unfortunate circumstances coming together for mutual support or comfort.
Tone
Used in a somber but empathetic context, though it can imply a group of people finding solace in shared misfortune.
Examples
受験に失敗した同士が集まり、同病相憐れむで互いに励まし合った。
Those who failed the entrance exam gathered and, sharing the same misfortune, encouraged one another.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses formal kanji compounds and the classical verb form 'awaremu', which are found in higher-level literary contexts.
同病
どうびょう / dobyo
same illness
相
あい / ai
mutually; each other
憐れむ
あわれむ / awaremu
to pity; to sympathize with
Usage Profile
Usage note: Be careful not to sound as if you are dismissing someone's unique struggle as just another problem.
Misread Risk
While the proverb literally mentions 'illness', it is used metaphorically for any shared hardship, failure, or difficulty.
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Origin
Derived from the Chinese classic Wu Yue Chunqiu (呉越春秋). The expression describes the phenomenon where those experiencing the same suffering or illness naturally feel compassion for one another and provide mutual comfort.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.