Q:

How do I respond to "family emergency"?

Someone tells me that he is sorry but he has been absent for a family emergency. 
Can I say "I hope your family is fine"? I wondered if that's polite in English-speaking culture.

A:

In English-speaking culture, I often hear people apologize for the misfortune of the other person. It's common to say something like "I'm sorry to hear that. I hope everything is ok."

