What is a sympathetic friend?

[popri]

A sympathetic friend means a compatible friend according to my English-Japanese dictionary. (I’m translating it from Japanese to English now.)
But I wonder if there is a bad connotation in it.
Like, I hang out with him just because he is always alone and I feel sorry for him. He is just a sympathetic friend.

1. Would you give me some example sentences?
2. Do you native speakers always use the word with a good meaning?

 

[Glizdka]

Not a teacher
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A sympathetic friend means a compatible friend according to my English-Japanese dictionary. (I’m translating it from Japanese to English now.)

Even though translation can sometimes give you a word that means almost exactly the same thing, the connotations and the general feel may be different. I don't think a sympathetic friend means a compatible friend. I have no clue how your translator came up with that.

I hang out with him just because he is always alone and I feel sorry for him. He is just a sympathetic friend.

I think the word you're looking for is pity, not sympathetic. A pity friend is exactly what you mean. I've heard pity used like that with a plethora of other words. To my surprise, I've even encountered people who claim to have pity-f**ked someone.

 

[probus]

Glizdka, your English is excellent and you are welcome to answer questions. Remember that when you do so you should acknowledge that you are not a native speaker nor an English teacher.

Popri, notwithstanding what your book says, native speakers usually don't talk of sympathetic friends. When we want to express that opinion about someone, many English speakers resort to an Italian or Spanish loan word: sympatico.

For example:

My wife: I really like our new friend Fernando.

Me: Yes, he's very sympatico.

 

[Glizdka]

Remember that when you do so you should acknowledge that you are not a native speaker nor an English teacher.

But I have... at the top of my post... as per usual.

I actually have taught English, though only to my fellow Poles. I don't want users to think that my comments are somehow comparable to an answer from a native speaker who's taught English to other native speakers, so I keep adding my little "Not a teacher".

Anyway, I'll try to make it stand out more, maybe in ALL CAPS.

 

[popri]

I understand. When I want to describe the person written on the first thread, I should use a pity friend. Right?
When you are getting along with someone well, you say he/she is very simpatico. How about saying he/she is a simpatico friend? Is there any way to modify nouns? or only a predicative adjective?

If I say “He is such a sympathetic friend”, does it mean he is a loving and caring friend?

 

[GoesStation]

If I say “He is such a sympathetic friend”, does it mean he is a loving and caring friend?

No. The words don't work well together.

 

[probus]

But I have... at the top of my post... as per usual..

Sorry. So you have. I don't know how I missed it.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Sympathetic" can be used to mean "compatible" but not when talking about people. For example, if you are renovating a house on the outside, in some areas you are expected to carry out the renovations in a way that is sympathetic to the surrounding houses. Your renovated house should fit nicely with the others. If all the houses in the street are painted white, you won't be painting yours neon pink. If the other houses have original sash windows, you shouldn't put in ugly uPVC triple glazing.

When talking about people, "sympathetic" tends to mean caring and compassionate.

 

[popri]

I checked the word “sympathetic” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online and it gives you “a sympathetic friend” as an example.
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/sympathetic
How would you explain about it?

 

[emsr2d2]

I checked the word “sympathetic” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online and it gives [STRIKE]you[/STRIKE] “a sympathetic friend” as an example.

https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/sympathetic

How would you explain [STRIKE]about[/STRIKE] it?

That usage is fine. It means that the friend displays sympathy towards others. It does not mean compatible, which is what you were talking about in your first post.

 

[GoesStation]

For example: Nothing is more valuable in difficult times than a sympathetic friend.