Conversation 16 (30/10/2025)

C1 Conversational Version:

I was watching this episode, and there’s a scene where Midge is performing at a bar. She starts talking, and you can tell her mind is racing — thoughts are coming to her in the moment. She begins to improvise and starts talking about a well-known, popular actress. And from the way her manager and this influential guest react, you can immediately sense that something’s off.

Midge is criticizing this actress, saying things she really shouldn’t — and you just know it’s going to lead to trouble.

I caught myself feeling for her, wanting to say, “Midge, stop — don’t do this.”

Then it hit me: everything that’s happening is exactly what the screenwriter planned, what the director intended, and what the actors brought to life. I can’t change anything.

You can’t change the story — but you can still feel it. And we do. We empathize. And that, in itself, means the actors are doing an incredible job. We believe them.

That’s what art is.

And noticing that emotional reaction in myself — that moment of self-awareness — was really fascinating.

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Great question — and yes, both "feeling for her" and "empathize" can be used to translate the Russian word «сопереживать», but they each have slightly different emotional tones and typical usage. Here's a breakdown to help you choose the right one based on context:

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🇷🇺 Сопереживать / переживать за неё

Means:

• To emotionally feel someone else's pain or difficulty,

• To worry, care, or feel compassion for them,

• Often emotionally involved, even if you’re not doing anything actively.

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💬 1. “Feel for her” – very natural, emotional, and idiomatic

• ✅ Good match for «сопереживать»

• Sounds warm, emotionally connected, and very conversational

• Often used when someone is going through something difficult, or embarrassing, or is about to make a mistake.

Example:

I really felt for her when she started spiraling during her performance.
(Я правда сопереживал ей, когда она начала срываться во время выступления.)

🟢 Great choice for spoken English. Very idiomatic.

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💬 2. “Empathize” – more formal and analytical

• ✅ Also a correct translation of «сопереживать»

• Slightly more detached or intellectual

• Often used in written English, discussions about psychology, literature, etc.

Example:

It’s impossible not to empathize with her in that scene.
(Невозможно не сопереживать ей в этой сцене.)

🟡 Good for writing, film analysis, or formal discussion — but less natural in casual speech.