what exactly does "my heart aches for you" mean?

[LeTyan]

Hi teachers:

When I say"my heart aches for you'"( which should sound romantic), what exactly does it imply?

my guesses:

1: my heart aches because i think of you too much(say "you" are my dream girl or someone like that)
2: my heart aches because of your suffering

I actually want to use this sentence for the meanning of guess 2.
So as English native speakers, do you think I can use "my heart aches for you" to mean guess 2?

Thank you so much!

[konungursvia]

1 is very close, it means he yearns for her, or loves her.

[LeTyan]

thx for the reply!

so if I want it to mean the second meanning, can I only say 'my heart aches for your suffering" or is there a better(more concise and romantic) choice possibly?

[JMurray]

A common phrase for the meaning you want is "I feel for you". It's an expression of empathy.

"I heard that your business has shut down. I really feel for you, knowing how hard you worked on it".
"I'm sorry that your cat has died. I feel for you as one cat lover to another".

Another possibility is "my heart goes out to you".
But you have to careful with this type of phrase because they are often used in a sarcastic manner. For example "I feel your suffering/pain" would often be correctly interpreted by a native speaker as being an exaggeration that is actually making fun of their, perhaps trivial, problem.
(a) Oh no! I've broken my nail.
(b) Poor girl, I feel your pain – now hurry up and get ready.

not a teacher

[LeTyan]

Thanks a lot JMurry! Your answer is very exhaustive and helpful and I appreciate it!

[LeTyan]

as for "my heart goes out to you", I am a little confused about the phrase" go out" used in here. Does it seem to mean something like 'light goes out" or something else? what does"go out" in here mean?

[JMurray]

as for "my heart goes out to you", I am a little confused about the phrase" go out" used in here. Does it seem to mean something like 'light goes out" or something else? what does"go out" in here mean?.

No, it's not in the sense of "to be extinguished", like a light.

It means to go from within you and out towards someone else. So the phrase is a metaphor for reaching out to someone and offering them comfort and sympathy.
"My heart goes out to all those parents who are struggling to raise their children in the midst of poverty".
"The Prime Minister said that his heart goes out to all those people affected by the earthquake".

[LeTyan]

Thanks Murray! It's clear to me now!

[konungursvia]

thx for the reply!

so if I want it to mean the second meanning, can I only say 'my heart aches for your suffering" or is there a better(more concise and romantic) choice possibly?

I guess you can use it for the second meaning too, as long as the context shows it's not romantic. You should begin every sentence with a capital letter, otherwise teachers will be annoyed and won't answer you.

[shannico]

thx for the reply!

so if I want it to mean the second meanning, can I only say 'my heart aches for your suffering" or is there a better(more concise and romantic) choice possibly?

Suggestion:
Considering you have come across the expression my heart goes out to you, which means empathise with someone, why don't you use it in your second example? It may be clearer and you'd avoid any romantic connotations.
Hope it helps.