begrudge
อิจฉา - Thai translation
Main Translations
- English: Begrudge
- Thai: อิจฉา (Itcha)
- Phonetic: It-cha (pronounced with a short 'i' sound as in "it," followed by a soft 'ch' as in "chair").
- Detailed Explanation: The Thai word "อิจฉา" primarily translates to "begrudge" in contexts involving envy, resentment, or reluctance to give or acknowledge something positive about others. It carries emotional connotations of jealousy and bitterness, often stemming from perceived inequality. Usage scenarios include personal relationships (e.g., envying a friend's success) or professional settings (e.g., resenting a colleague's promotion). Semantic nuances highlight its negative undertone, emphasizing an internal conflict or grudge that can lead to strained interactions. In Thai culture, this word is commonly used in everyday conversations to express subtle dissatisfaction without direct confrontation.
- Thai: ริษยา (Ritsaya)
- Phonetic: Rit-sa-ya (pronounced with a rolled 'r' sound, a short 'i' as in "rit," and a soft 'ya' as in "yard").
- Detailed Explanation: "ริษยา" serves as a secondary translation for "begrudge," focusing more on intense jealousy or resentment, particularly in competitive or emotional situations. It implies a deeper emotional connotation of malice or hostility, often with long-term effects on relationships. Usage scenarios might involve familial disputes or social comparisons, such as begrudging someone's wealth or achievements. Semantic nuances differentiate it from "อิจฉา" by emphasizing active hostility rather than passive reluctance, making it suitable for more dramatic or literary contexts in Thai language.
Overview of Usage Scenarios
The word "begrudge" is primarily used as a verb to express feelings of envy, resentment, or reluctance, often in interpersonal or competitive contexts. Common usage scenarios include personal relationships (e.g., envying a partner's attention), professional environments (e.g., resenting a peer's success), and everyday situations (e.g., hesitating to share resources). It conveys negative emotions and is frequently employed in both formal and informal settings to highlight emotional imbalances or perceived injustices. In Thai translations like "อิจฉา" or "ริษยา," the word adapts to cultural nuances, such as indirect expressions of emotion in social interactions.
Example Sentences
Example Sentences in Different Scenarios
Business Scenario
- English: I begrudge my colleague's promotion because I worked harder for it.
- Thai: ฉันอิจฉาการเลื่อนตำแหน่งของเพื่อนร่วมงานเพราะฉันทำงานหนักกว่ามาก (Chan itcha kan leuen dtam-naeng khor phueng rum ngan proh chan tham ngan nak kwa mak).
- Grammatical Breakdown: "I" (subject, first-person pronoun), "begrudge" (transitive verb indicating resentment), "my colleague's promotion" (direct object, possessive noun phrase), "because" (subordinating conjunction linking clauses), "I worked harder for it" (dependent clause with "worked" as the main verb in past tense).
- Structural Analysis: This sentence follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) structure in English, common in declarative statements. The use of "begrudge" highlights emotional resentment in a professional context, making it suitable for business discussions. In Thai, the structure is similar but uses topic-comment ordering, enhancing cultural subtlety in expressing jealousy.
Leisure Scenario
- English: She begrudges her friend’s vacation photos on social media.
- Thai: เธอริษยาภาพถ่ายวันหยุดของเพื่อนบนโซเชียลมีเดีย (Ther ritsaya pha-thae wan yut khor phueng bon so-shee-al mee-dee-a).
- Grammatical Breakdown: "She" (subject, third-person pronoun), "begrudges" (verb in present tense), "her friend’s vacation photos" (direct object, possessive phrase), "on social media" (prepositional phrase providing context).
- Structural Analysis: The sentence uses a simple SVO structure to convey everyday envy in a casual setting. "Begrudge" adds an emotional layer, typical in leisure contexts. In Thai, the verb "ริษยา" intensifies the sentiment, reflecting how social media amplifies such feelings in modern culture.
Formal Occasion
- English: The company begrudges the high salary of its executives during economic downturns.
- Thai: บริษัทอิจฉาค่าสินไหมของผู้บริหารในช่วงเศรษฐกิจตกต่ำ (Bor-ri-sat itcha kha sin-mai khor phu bor-ri-karn nai chun settha-ki-tak dta-khlaem).
- Grammatical Breakdown: "The company" (subject, collective noun), "begrudges" (verb), "the high salary" (direct object), "of its executives" (prepositional phrase), "during economic downturns" (adverbial phrase).
- Structural Analysis: This complex sentence employs SVO with embedded phrases for formality. "Begrudge" underscores resentment in a corporate context, aligning with professional discourse. The Thai translation maintains a formal tone, using precise vocabulary to suit official settings.
Informal Occasion
- English: I begrudge you that last slice of pizza; you always take the best parts!
- Thai: ฉันอิจฉาชิ้นพิซซ่าชิ้นสุดท้ายของแก; แกเอาแต่ส่วนที่ดีที่สุดเสมอ! (Chan itcha chun pizza chun sut-thai khor gae; gae ao tae suan thee dee suth-mao!)
- Grammatical Breakdown: "I" (subject), "begrudge" (verb), "you that last slice of pizza" (direct object with indirect object), "you always take" (dependent clause).
- Structural Analysis: Informal SVO structure with exclamatory elements for emphasis. "Begrudge" adds humor and light-hearted resentment, common in casual conversations. In Thai, the informal language and exclamation mark enhance relatability.
Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types
Declarative Sentence
- English: He begrudges his neighbor's new car.
- Thai: เขาอิจฉารถยนต์คันใหม่ของเพื่อนบ้าน (Khao itcha rot-ya-nut kan mai khor phueng ban).
- Grammatical Breakdown: "He" (subject), "begrudges" (verb), "his neighbor's new car" (object).
- Structural Analysis: Straightforward declarative SVO, stating a fact with emotional undertones.
Interrogative Sentence
- English: Do you begrudge my success after all our hard work?
- Thai: คุณอิจฉาความสำเร็จของฉันหลังจากที่เราทำงานหนักหรือ? (Khun itcha khwam sam-rej khor chan laeng jaak thi rao tham ngan nak ru?)
- Grammatical Breakdown: "Do you" (inverted subject-verb for question), "begrudge" (verb), "my success" (object), "after all our hard work" (adverbial clause).
- Structural Analysis: Interrogative structure probes emotions, using "begrudge" to question resentment.
Imperative Sentence
- English: Don't begrudge others their happiness.
- Thai: อย่าอิจฉาความสุขของคนอื่น (Yah itcha khwam sook khor kon euhn).
- Grammatical Breakdown: "Don't" (negative imperative), "begrudge" (verb), "others their happiness" (object).
- Structural Analysis: Direct command using "begrudge" to advise against envy.
Exclamatory Sentence
- English: I begrudge how easily you achieved that!
- Thai: ฉันอิจฉาที่คุณทำได้ง่ายดายขนาดนั้น! (Chan itcha thi khun tham dai ngaai-dai kha-na-n!)
- Grammatical Breakdown: "I" (subject), "begrudge" (verb), "how easily you achieved that" (object clause).
- Structural Analysis: Exclamatory tone amplifies resentment with "begrudge."
Example Sentences of Different Difficulties
Simple Sentence
- English: I begrudge him.
- Thai: ฉันอิจฉาเขา (Chan itcha khao).
- Grammatical Breakdown: "I" (subject), "begrudge" (verb), "him" (object).
- Structural Analysis: Basic SVO for beginners.
Intermediate Sentence
- English: She begrudges the time he spends with friends.
- Thai: เธอริษยาเวลาที่เขาใช้กับเพื่อน (Ther ritsaya we-la thi khao chai kap phueng).
- Grammatical Breakdown: "She" (subject), "begrudges" (verb), "the time" (object), "he spends with friends" (clause).
- Structural Analysis: Adds complexity with a dependent clause.
Complex Sentence
- English: Although I try not to, I begrudge my sister's achievements because they remind me of my own failures.
- Thai: แม้ฉันจะพยายามไม่ แต่ฉันก็อิจฉาความสำเร็จของน้องสาวเพราะมันทำให้ฉันนึกถึงความล้มเหลวของตัวเอง (Mae chan ja pha-ya-yam mai tae chan gor itcha khwam sam-rej khor nong sao proh man tham hai chan neuk theung khwam lum-lao khor dtua eng).
- Grammatical Breakdown: "Although I try not to" (subordinate clause), "I begrudge" (main clause), "my sister's achievements" (object), "because they remind me" (another subordinate clause).
- Structural Analysis: Multi-clause structure for advanced usage, exploring deep emotions.
Related Phrases and Expressions
Synonyms/Near Synonyms:
- Envy – Used to express a desire for what someone else has, often with resentment; e.g., "I envy your skills" in competitive scenarios.
- Resent – Implies bitterness over perceived unfairness; e.g., "I resent the decision" in formal contexts.
Antonyms:
- Appreciate – Conveys gratitude and admiration; e.g., "I appreciate your help" in positive interactions.
- Admire – Suggests respect without jealousy; e.g., "I admire your courage" in motivational settings.
Common Collocations:
- Begrudge success – Refers to resenting someone's achievements; e.g., in business to highlight workplace envy.
- Begrudge time – Means reluctantly giving time to something; e.g., in daily life for time management discussions.
Cultural Background and Usage Habits
Cultural Background:
- Cultural Point 1: In Western cultures, "begrudge" often appears in literature and media to explore themes of jealousy, as seen in Shakespeare's works where envy drives conflict. In Thai culture, similar concepts are expressed through proverbs like "อิจฉาไฟไหม้บ้าน" (envy burns the house), emphasizing how resentment can destroy relationships, reflecting a collectivist society that values harmony.
Usage Habits:
- Habit 1: "Begrudge" and its Thai equivalents are frequently used in informal conversations among younger demographics on social media, but less so in formal settings due to its negative connotations. It is popular in storytelling and self-reflection, applicable to adults dealing with competition or inequality.
Grammar Explanation
- Grammatical Function: "Begrudge" functions as a transitive verb, typically requiring a direct object (e.g., "I begrudge him success"). It can act as the main verb in a sentence or part of a larger clause, often expressing emotions.
- Tense and Voice: It changes with tenses: present ("I begrudge"), past ("I begrudged"), future ("I will begrudge"). In active voice, it focuses on the subject’s resentment; passive voice is rare (e.g., "Success was begrudged by him"), but possible in formal writing.
References
Etymology and History:
The word "begrudge" originates from Old English "begrucgian," meaning to grumble or complain, evolving through Middle English to its modern form in the 14th century. It has historical ties to expressions of envy in literature, reflecting societal attitudes toward inequality during the Renaissance.
Literary References:
- From William Shakespeare's "Othello": "I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leap'd into my seat; the thought whereof doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards; and nothing can or shall content my soul till I am even'd with him, wife for wife, or failing so, yet that I put the Moor at least into a jealousy so strong that judgment cannot cure." (Act 2, Scene 1) – Here, "jealousy" aligns with begrudging emotions, illustrating resentment in relationships.
- From modern literature: In F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," the theme of begrudging wealth is evident: "He smiled understandingly—much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it."