The first problem lies in the word 'sense', which relates to our 6 senses: our ability to hear, see, touch, smell, taste and... er... detect electromagnetic fields. 'Sense' is also used to mean our ability to think and react to other people's feelings.
Sensible = with good sense, rational.
- That's a sensible decision.
- She'll be fine in India, she's a sensible girl.
Sensitive = reacting to a small stimulus, aware of others' feelings, emotional.
- I can't use soap because my skin is very sensitive.
- She's really sensitive to my feelings. If I've had a bad day, she really listens.
- Be careful when you talk to John about his report. He takes his work very seriously and can be sensitive to criticism.
'Sympathetic', on the other hand, looks like 'simpático' or 'sympathique' but it doesn't mean the same.
Sympathetic = listening and empathizing with someone, understanding - not usually a permanent characteristic.
- When I explained that I had gone to the wrong building, they were very sympathetic.
- I don't really need a solution, just a sympathetic ear, someone who will listen.
Nice, friendly, likeable, lovely = simpático, sympathique = what you thought 'sympathetic' meant.
- What did you think of my friends? They seemed really nice.
- The hotel owner was really friendly and he told us where to find the best fish.
- He's a very likeable chap, isn't he!
- The woman at the shop was so lovely; she gave me two extra chocolates!
Now over to you:
Which of these is sensible, sensitive, sympathetic... or just nice?
I explained that someone had stolen my wallet but they weren't very ________.
My neighbour brought me a leg of ham this morning: he said he was given two for Christmas and could never eat both of them. How ________!
She told me she was ________ but she never noticed when I was upset.
I'm going to call them now and see if they know what's going on.
I think that's very ________.
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