BaanWords

apologetic

สำนึกผิด - Thai translation

Main Translations

  • English: Apologetic
  • Thai: สำนึกผิด (Samnùk phìt)
    • Phonetic: Sam-nùk phìt
    • Detailed Explanation: "สำนึกผิด" is commonly used in Thai to describe a state of regret or remorse for one's actions. It carries emotional connotations of humility, self-reflection, and sincerity. Usage scenarios include everyday apologies, professional settings where mistakes occur, or personal relationships involving conflict resolution. Semantically, it emphasizes internal feelings rather than outward actions, making it a nuanced translation for "apologetic" in contexts where defensiveness or regret is implied, such as saying, "He was apologetic after the argument."
  • Thai: ขอโทษ (Khǎo thôot)
    • Phonetic: Khǎo thôot
    • Detailed Explanation: "ขอโทษ" is a more direct and action-oriented translation, often used as a verb phrase meaning "to apologize." However, in adjective form, it can imply a regretful demeanor. Emotional connotations include politeness and social harmony, which are highly valued in Thai culture. Usage scenarios involve formal or informal apologies, such as in customer service or daily interactions. Semantically, it focuses on the act of expressing regret, differing slightly from "apologetic" by being more performative, e.g., "She sounded apologetic in her email."

Overview of Usage Scenarios

Apologetic is primarily an adjective used to describe someone who expresses regret, remorse, or a defensive stance about their actions, beliefs, or mistakes. Common usage scenarios include personal relationships (e.g., resolving conflicts), professional environments (e.g., business errors), and social interactions (e.g., cultural etiquette). It often conveys humility or emotional vulnerability, but can also imply defensiveness in contexts like justifying opinions. In Thai translations, it aligns with scenarios emphasizing social harmony and face-saving, making it versatile for both formal and informal settings.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

  • Business Scenario
    • English: I am apologetic for the delay in our project delivery.
    • Thai: ผมสำนึกผิดที่โครงการของเราช้าครับ (Phǒm samnùk phìt thîi krongkān khǎwng rao châa khráb)
    • Grammatical Breakdown: "I" (subject, first-person pronoun), "am" (linking verb, present tense), "apologetic" (adjective describing the subject), "for" (preposition indicating reason), "the delay" (noun phrase as object), "in our project delivery" (prepositional phrase providing context).
    • Structural Analysis: This is a simple declarative sentence with an adjective modifying the subject. The structure follows Subject-Verb-Adjective-Prepositional Phrase, common in business English for conveying accountability. In Thai, the sentence maintains a polite tone with "ครับ" (khráb) for formality.
  • Leisure Scenario
    • English: She was apologetic about canceling our hiking trip at the last minute.
    • Thai: เธอสำนึกผิดที่ยกเลิกทริปเดินป่าของเราตอนท้ายๆ (Thoe samnùk phìt thîi yók lehk trip doǎn bpâa khǎwng rao dtawn thâi-thâi)
    • Grammatical Breakdown: "She" (subject, third-person pronoun), "was" (linking verb, past tense), "apologetic" (adjective), "about" (preposition), "canceling" (gerund as object), "our hiking trip" (noun phrase), "at the last minute" (adverbial phrase).
    • Structural Analysis: This compound sentence uses a past tense verb to describe a regretful action in a casual context. The adjective "apologetic" adds emotional depth, while the Thai version uses "สำนึกผิด" to preserve the informal, relational tone.
  • Formal Occasion
    • English: The CEO was apologetic during the shareholders' meeting regarding the financial losses.
    • Thai: ซีอีโอนำเสนอท่าทีสำนึกผิดในการประชุมผู้ถือหุ้นเกี่ยวกับการขาดทุนทางการเงิน (Sī-ī-o námsěn thâa thī samnùk phìt nai gaan bpà-rá-chum pûu tĕu hùn weing gān khàt thun thǎng gaan ngern)
    • Grammatical Breakdown: "The CEO" (subject, noun phrase), "was" (linking verb, past tense), "apologetic" (adjective), "during" (preposition), "the shareholders' meeting" (noun phrase), "regarding" (preposition), "the financial losses" (noun phrase).
    • Structural Analysis: This is a complex sentence with multiple prepositional phrases for detail. "Apologetic" functions as a predicate adjective, emphasizing professionalism. The Thai translation uses formal language to match the occasion.
  • Informal Occasion
    • English: He sounded apologetic when he forgot my birthday.
    • Thai: เขาดูขอโทษตอนที่ลืมวันเกิดของฉัน (Kǎo duu khǎo thôot dtawn thîi lûem wan gèrt khǎwng chăn)
    • Grammatical Breakdown: "He" (subject), "sounded" (linking verb), "apologetic" (adjective), "when" (subordinating conjunction), "he forgot" (clause with subject and verb), "my birthday" (noun phrase).
    • Structural Analysis: This subordinate clause structure highlights cause and effect in an everyday context. "Apologetic" describes the manner, and the Thai version uses "ขอโทษ" for a conversational feel.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

  • Declarative Sentence
    • English: You seem apologetic about your decision.
    • Thai: คุณดูสำนึกผิดเกี่ยวกับการตัดสินใจของคุณ (Khun duu samnùk phìt weing gān dtàt sin jà khǎwng khun)
    • Grammatical Breakdown: "You" (subject), "seem" (linking verb), "apologetic" (adjective), "about" (preposition), "your decision" (noun phrase).
    • Structural Analysis: A straightforward declarative sentence stating a fact, with "apologetic" as a modifier.
  • Interrogative Sentence
    • English: Are you being apologetic just to avoid conflict?
    • Thai: คุณกำลังสำนึกผิดเพื่อหลีกเลี่ยงความขัดแย้งหรือ? (Khun gam-lang samnùk phìt pêu liaek lîang khwaam khàt yaeng rûe?)
    • Grammatical Breakdown: "Are you" (inverted subject-verb for question), "being" (present participle), "apologetic" (adjective), "just to avoid" (infinitive phrase), "conflict" (noun).
    • Structural Analysis: This yes/no question uses inversion for interrogation, probing motives behind the adjective.
  • Imperative Sentence
    • English: Be more apologetic in your response!
    • Thai: โปรดสำนึกผิดมากกว่านี้ในการตอบกลับ! (Proht samnùk phìt mâak gwàa níi nai gaan dtàp glàp!)
    • Grammatical Breakdown: "Be" (imperative verb), "more" (adverb of degree), "apologetic" (adjective), "in your response" (prepositional phrase).
    • Structural Analysis: An imperative command urging action, with "apologetic" as the key descriptor.
  • Exclamatory Sentence
    • English: How apologetic he is after making that mistake!
    • Thai: ช่างสำนึกผิดจริงๆ ที่เขาได้ทำผิดแบบนั้น! (Châang samnùk phìt jing-jing thîi kǎo dâi tham phìt bpen nán!)
    • Grammatical Breakdown: "How" (exclamation starter), "apologetic" (adjective), "he is" (subject-verb), "after making" (gerund phrase), "that mistake" (noun phrase).
    • Structural Analysis: This exclamatory sentence emphasizes emotion, with "apologetic" intensifying the surprise or sarcasm.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

  • Simple Sentence
    • English: I'm apologetic.
    • Thai: ผมสำนึกผิด (Phǒm samnùk phìt)
    • Grammatical Breakdown: "I'm" (contraction of subject and linking verb), "apologetic" (adjective).
    • Structural Analysis: A basic subject-adjective structure for beginners.
  • Intermediate Sentence
    • English: She felt apologetic during the conversation.
    • Thai: เธอรู้สึกสำนึกผิดระหว่างการสนทนา (Thoe rûuea sǎm nùk phìt rûang gān sŏn tha-naa)
    • Grammatical Breakdown: "She" (subject), "felt" (verb), "apologetic" (adjective complement), "during" (preposition), "the conversation" (noun phrase).
    • Structural Analysis: Adds a prepositional phrase for context, increasing complexity.
  • Complex Sentence
    • English: Although he was apologetic, his actions didn't match his words, which frustrated everyone.
    • Thai: แม้เขาจะสำนึกผิด แต่การกระทำของเขาไม่สอดคล้องกับคำพูด ซึ่งทำให้ทุกคนหงุดหงิด (Mâe kǎo jà samnùk phìt tàe gaan grà-tham khǎwng kǎo mâi sòt khlòng gèp kham phûut, sùang tham hai túk khon ngùt ngìt)
    • Grammatical Breakdown: "Although" (subordinating conjunction), "he was" (clause), "apologetic" (adjective), "his actions" (noun phrase), "didn't match" (verb phrase), "which" (relative pronoun), "frustrated" (verb).
    • Structural Analysis: Multiple clauses with subordination, showing contrast and consequence.

Related Phrases and Expressions

  • Synonyms/Near Synonyms:
    • Remorseful – Used to express deep regret, often in emotional or moral contexts, e.g., "He was remorseful after the incident."
    • Regretful – Similar to apologetic but focuses on sorrow for past actions, e.g., "She felt regretful about her choices."
  • Antonyms:
    • Unapologetic – Describes someone who shows no regret, often defiantly, e.g., "He remained unapologetic despite the criticism."
    • Defiant – Implies resistance or boldness without remorse, e.g., "Her defiant attitude was the opposite of apologetic."
  • Common Collocations:
    • Be apologetic about – Used when expressing regret for something specific, e.g., "He was apologetic about the mistake in the report."
    • Sound apologetic – Refers to the tone or manner of apology, e.g., "She sounded apologetic on the phone call."

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

  • Cultural Background:
    • Cultural Point 1: In Western cultures, being apologetic is often linked to individualism and personal accountability, as seen in professional settings like business apologies. However, in Thai culture, expressions like "สำนึกผิด" emphasize collectivism and maintaining "face" (saving social harmony), where apologies are frequent to avoid conflict and preserve relationships.
  • Usage Habits:
    • Habit 1: Apologetic phrases are highly popular in everyday Thai interactions, especially among younger generations and in service industries, due to cultural norms of politeness. It's used frequently in informal settings but less so in formal ones without hierarchy, with high applicability among all age groups for conflict resolution.

Grammar Explanation

  • Grammatical Function: "Apologetic" functions as an adjective, typically modifying nouns (e.g., "an apologetic tone") or following linking verbs (e.g., "He is apologetic"). It can act as a predicate adjective or part of a descriptive phrase.
  • Tense and Voice: As an adjective, "apologetic" does not change with tense; it remains the same regardless of time (e.g., "was apologetic" in past tense uses the verb "was"). It is not affected by voice since it's not a verb, but it can appear in passive constructions indirectly, e.g., "The statement was made in an apologetic manner."

References

  • Etymology and History: The word "apologetic" derives from the Greek "apologia," meaning "a defense or speech in defense." It evolved in English during the 17th century to mean expressing regret, influenced by religious and philosophical contexts where defenses of faith were common. Over time, it shifted from a neutral defense to a connotation of remorse in modern usage.
  • Literary References: In Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," the character Mr. Darcy shows an apologetic demeanor in his letter to Elizabeth: "I was entirely deceived" (Chapter 35), highlighting regret and self-reflection. Another example is in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," where Nick Carraway notes Gatsby's apologetic nature: "He was apologetic about his parties" (Chapter 3), illustrating social regret.