เกรงใจ
greeng-jaiMeaning
1VerbB2
[to] feel reluctant out of respect/consideration
to feel you should not trouble someone because you respect them or do not want to impose; to hold back due to social consideration
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)อยากyàakอยากyàak1[to] want; desire2to crave; to long forขอkɔ̌ɔขอkɔ̌ɔ1[to] request; ask for [sth]2polite request marker3[to] beg; plead4[to] wish for; pray forยืมyʉʉmยืมyʉʉm1[to] borrow [sth]2[to] borrow [an idea, style, etc.]เงินngənเงินngən1money2funds; finances3silver (metal)แต่dtɛ̀ɛแต่dtɛ̀ɛ1but; however (contrast)2only; just (restriction)3from; since (starting point)เกรงใจgreeng-jaiเกรงใจgreeng-jai[to] feel reluctant out of respect/considerationเลยləəiเลยləəi1at all; whatsoever (often in negatives)2so; thus; then (immediate result)3completely; absolutely (emphasis)4[to] pass; go beyond; exceedไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)พูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk about
I wanted to borrow money, but I refrained from asking so as not to bother them.
7 more examplesShow less
เขาkǎoปวดหัวbpùuat-hǔuaมากmâakแต่dtɛ̀ɛเกรงใจgreeng-jaiเพื่อนpʉ̂ʉanจึงjʉngไม่mâiขอให้kɔ̌ɔ-hâiปิดbpìtเพลงpleeng
He had a bad headache but refrained from asking his friends to turn off the music so as not to inconvenience them.
เธอtəəมีmiiคำถามkam-tǎamหลายlǎaiข้อkɔ̂ɔแต่dtɛ̀ɛเกรงใจgreeng-jaiอาจารย์aa-jaanเลยləəiไม่mâiขัดจังหวะkàt-jang-wàในระหว่างnai-rá-wàangบรรยายban-yaai
She had many questions but refrained from interrupting the lecture so as not to inconvenience the professor.
ผมpǒmเห็นhěnคิวแน่นkiu-nɛ̂nมากmâakเลยləəiเกรงใจgreeng-jaiไม่mâiขอให้kɔ̌ɔ-hâiเจ้าหน้าที่jâao-nâa-tîiเร่งrêngทำเรื่องtam-rʉ̂ʉangให้hâiผมpǒmเป็นพิเศษbpen-pí-sèet
I saw the line was very long, so I refrained from asking the staff to expedite my case so as not to trouble them.
ฉันchǎnเกรงใจgreeng-jaiเลยləəiไม่mâiกล้าglâaขอให้kɔ̌ɔ-hâiเขาkǎoช่วยchûuaiย้ายyáaiของkɔ̌ɔngตอนดึกdtɔɔn-dʉ̀k
I felt I shouldn’t trouble him, so I didn’t dare ask him to help move things late at night.
The housekeeper just finished work; I didn’t want to impose, so I washed the dishes myself.
แม้mɛ́ɛจะjàปวดหลังbpùuat-lǎngแต่dtɛ̀ɛพ่อpɔ̂ɔก็gɔ̂เกรงใจgreeng-jaiญาติyâatที่tîiมาจากmaa-jàakไกลglaiเลยləəiฝืนfʉ̌ʉnไปbpaiรับrápที่tîiสนามบินsà-nǎam-bin
Even though his back hurt, Dad held back out of consideration for the relatives who came from afar and forced himself to pick them up at the airport.
เธอtəəปฏิเสธbpà-dtì-sèetของขวัญkɔ̌ɔng-kwǎnราคาแพงraa-kaa-pɛɛngเพราะprɔ́เกรงใจgreeng-jaiไม่mâiอยากyàakให้hâiเพื่อนpʉ̂ʉanต้องdtɔ̂ngลำบากlam-bàak
She declined the expensive gift out of consideration, not wanting her friend to be burdened.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid classConsonant clusterIn the cluster กร, the first consonant ก sets the class.
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableEnds in -ง, a sonorant, so it is live.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Mid tone
greeng
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Mid class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |
Word Breakdown
เกรงgreengเกรงgreeng1[to] fear; be apprehensive (often with deference)2[to] be concerned that ...; fear that ...[to] fear; be apprehensive (often with deference)Part 1
+
ใจjaiใจjai1heart; mind; feelings; spirit2kindness; compassion; generosity3courage; spirit; morale4intention; will; willingness5core; essence (in compounds)heart; mind; feelings; spiritPart 2
เกรงใจgreeng-jaiเกรงใจgreeng-jai[to] feel reluctant out of respect/consideration[to] feel reluctant out of respect/considerationWord