compassionate

compassionate — adjective

1. describing someone who notices when others are in pain or facing hard times and

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describing someone who notices when others are in pain or facing hard times and genuinely wants to do something to help them or make them feel better

例句

The compassionate nurse sat with the elderly patient until his family arrived.

adjective before noun showing kind behaviour toward someone in need

After the earthquake, neighbours showed compassionate support by sharing food and water.

同義詞
  • sympathetic

    focuses on understanding someone's feelings; 'compassionate' adds a stronger desire to help

  • caring

    broader — describes ongoing concern for someone's wellbeing, not specifically tied to suffering

  • kind

    general personality trait; 'compassionate' is more specific to responding to hardship

  • tender-hearted

    more informal and emotional; suggests a gentle, soft reaction to others' pain

反義詞
  • cruel

    the opposite — deliberately causing or enjoying others' suffering

  • callous

    shows no concern or emotional reaction to others' pain

  • indifferent

    simply does not care; less actively negative than 'cruel'

常見錯誤

❌She is a very compassion person.
✅She is a very compassionate person.
💡'compassion' is a noun; add the -ate ending to make the adjective form.
❌He gave me a compassion look.
✅He gave me a compassionate look.
💡When describing a person or their action, use the adjective 'compassionate,' not the noun 'compassion.'

2. describing a special reason or permission given to someone because their persona

2.形容詞C1
釋義

describing a special reason or permission given to someone because their personal situation involves unusual hardship or suffering, such as a family death or serious illness

例句

The company granted Tariq compassionate leave so he could attend his brother's funeral.

collocation: compassionate leave

Prisoners can seek early release on compassionate grounds if a family member is very ill.

collocation: compassionate grounds

同義詞
  • lenient

    describes a mild punishment or rule, but does not imply the reason is personal hardship

  • exceptional

    refers to unusual circumstances but does not carry the sympathy meaning

  • humanitarian

    broader — often describes aid or policy, not individual permission

用法筆記

This sense is almost always found in fixed phrases such as 'compassionate leave' (time off work after a family crisis) and 'on compassionate grounds' (a legal or administrative reason based on personal hardship). It is rarely used as a standalone description of a person.

常見錯誤

❌I asked my boss for a compassionate day off.
✅I asked my boss for compassionate leave.
💡The fixed expression is 'compassionate leave,' not a general use of the adjective.