Main Translations

• English: Conscience
• Thai: จิตสำนึก (Primary Translation 1)
• Phonetic: Jit sam nuek
• Detailed Explanation: "จิตสำนึก" is commonly used in Thai to refer to an individual's inner sense of right and wrong, often in moral or ethical contexts. It carries emotional connotations of guilt, responsibility, and self-reflection, emphasizing personal integrity. For example, in everyday "conscience meaning" discussions, it appears in scenarios involving ethical dilemmas, such as deciding whether to return lost money. Semantically, it nuances towards a broader awareness of societal norms, influenced by Buddhist principles in Thai culture, making it more collective than the individualistic Western view of conscience.
• Thai: มโนธรรม (Secondary Translation 2)
• Phonetic: Ma no tham
• Detailed Explanation: "มโนธรรม" translates to a moral conscience or ethical framework, often with connotations of righteousness and inner peace. It is used in more formal or philosophical contexts, such as legal or religious discussions about "conscience in Thai" culture. Emotionally, it evokes a sense of duty and harmony, with semantic nuances tied to Buddhist teachings on karma and mindfulness. Unlike "จิตสำนึก," which is more personal, "มโนธรรม" can imply a universal moral standard, making it ideal for debates on social justice or personal growth.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

In exploring the "conscience meaning," this word is primarily used in ethical, moral, and introspective contexts. It appears in personal decision-making, professional ethics, and cultural discussions, often highlighting internal conflicts or moral judgments. For instance, in Thai language settings, "conscience in Thai" like "จิตสำนึก" is frequently employed in everyday conversations about guilt or righteousness, while in English, it underscores individual accountability. Common scenarios include moral dilemmas in business, leisure activities involving ethical choices, formal debates on justice, and informal self-reflections, making it a versatile term across cultures.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

• English: My conscience wouldn't allow me to sign the unethical contract.
• Thai: จิตสำนึกของฉันไม่ยอมให้ฉันเซ็นสัญญาที่ไม่ถูกต้องทางจริยธรรม (Jit sam nuek khong chan mai yom hai chan sen sanya thi mai thuk thong thang jaritham).
• Grammatical Breakdown: "My conscience" (subject, possessive noun) + "wouldn't allow" (modal verb indicating prohibition) + "me to sign" (infinitive phrase as object) + "the unethical contract" (direct object, adjective modifying noun).
• Structural Analysis: This declarative sentence follows a subject-verb-object structure, common in business "conscience usage examples." It highlights ethical conflict, with "conscience" as the core element driving the narrative, emphasizing personal responsibility in professional settings.

Leisure Scenario

• English: During my vacation, my conscience urged me to volunteer at the local charity.
• Thai: ในช่วงวันหยุดของฉัน จิตสำนึกของฉันกระตุ้นให้ฉันไปเป็นอาสาสมัครที่องค์กรการกุศลท้องถิ่น (Nai chun wan yut khong chan, jit sam nuek khong chan kra thun hai chan pai pen a sa samat thi orng karn ka su lha thong thin).
• Grammatical Breakdown: "During my vacation" (prepositional phrase) + "my conscience" (subject) + "urged me" (verb phrase) + "to volunteer" (infinitive clause) + "at the local charity" (prepositional phrase).
• Structural Analysis: As a complex sentence, it builds on a temporal clause to show cause and effect, illustrating how "conscience" influences leisure decisions and promotes moral actions in relaxed contexts.

Formal Occasion

• English: In a court of law, one's conscience must guide decisions of justice.
• Thai: ในศาลยุติธรรม จิตสำนึกของบุคคลต้องนำทางในการตัดสินความยุติธรรม (Nai saan yu ti tham, jit sam nuek khong buk khon tong nam thang nai kan tad sin khwam yu ti tham).
• Grammatical Breakdown: "In a court of law" (prepositional phrase) + "one's conscience" (possessive subject) + "must guide" (modal verb + verb) + "decisions of justice" (object noun phrase).
• Structural Analysis: This sentence uses a formal, imperative-like structure to emphasize obligation, showcasing "conscience" as a guiding force in legal "conscience usage examples," with a focus on societal norms.

Informal Occasion

• English: I ignored my conscience and ate the last slice of cake, but now I feel guilty.
• Thai: ฉันเพิกเฉยต่อจิตสำนึกและกินชิ้นเค้กชิ้นสุดท้าย แต่ตอนนี้ฉันรู้สึกผิด (Chan pheik chuey tor jit sam nuek lae kin chun khek chun sut thmai tae ta nai chan ru seuk phit).
• Grammatical Breakdown: "I ignored" (subject + verb) + "my conscience" (object) + "and ate" (coordinating conjunction + verb) + "the last slice of cake" (object) + "but now I feel guilty" (contrast clause).
• Structural Analysis: This compound sentence contrasts actions and emotions, using "conscience" to depict everyday regrets in informal settings, making it relatable for casual "conscience in Thai" conversations.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

• English: A clear conscience is the sign of a peaceful mind.
• Thai: จิตสำนึกที่ชัดเจนเป็นเครื่องหมายของจิตใจที่สงบ (Jit sam nuek thi chat chen pen krueang mak khong jit jai thi song).
• Grammatical Breakdown: "A clear conscience" (subject) + "is" (linking verb) + "the sign" (predicate nominative) + "of a peaceful mind" (prepositional phrase).
• Structural Analysis: Simple and straightforward, this sentence states a fact, positioning "conscience" as a key theme in moral philosophy.

Interrogative Sentence

• English: Does your conscience ever bother you about past mistakes?
• Thai: จิตสำนึกของคุณเคยรบกวนคุณเกี่ยวกับความผิดพลาดในอดีตหรือไม่ (Jit sam nuek khong khun keu rob kuen khunเกี่ยวกับความผิดพลาดในอดีต rue mai).
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Does" (auxiliary verb for question) + "your conscience" (subject) + "ever bother you" (verb phrase) + "about past mistakes" (prepositional phrase).
• Structural Analysis: This yes/no question engages the reader, using "conscience" to probe self-reflection, common in therapeutic or ethical "conscience usage examples."

Imperative Sentence

• English: Listen to your conscience before making that decision.
• Thai: ฟังจิตสำนึกของคุณก่อนตัดสินใจเรื่องนั้น (Fang jit sam nuek khong khun kon tad sin jai reuang nan).
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Listen" (imperative verb) + "to your conscience" (prepositional phrase) + "before making that decision" (subordinate clause).
• Structural Analysis: Direct and commanding, it urges action, with "conscience" as the focal point for advice in decision-making scenarios.

Exclamatory Sentence

• English: What a relief it is to have a clear conscience!
• Thai: ช่างเป็นความโล่งอกที่ได้มีจิตสำนึกที่ชัดเจน! (Chang pen khwam long ok thi dai mi jit sam nuek thi chat chen!).
• Grammatical Breakdown: "What a relief" (exclamation starter) + "it is" (linking phrase) + "to have a clear conscience" (infinitive phrase).
• Structural Analysis: This sentence expresses strong emotion, using "conscience" to convey joy or relief, enhancing dramatic effect in personal narratives.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

• English: My conscience hurts.
• Thai: จิตสำนึกของฉันเจ็บปวด (Jit sam nuek khong chan jeb pud).
• Grammatical Breakdown: "My conscience" (subject) + "hurts" (verb).
• Structural Analysis: Basic subject-verb structure, ideal for beginners learning "conscience meaning."

Intermediate Sentence

• English: If you ignore your conscience, regret might follow.
• Thai: ถ้าคุณเพิกเฉยต่อจิตสำนึกของคุณ ความเสียใจอาจตามมา (Tha khun pheik chuey tor jit sam nuek khong khun, khwam si jai at tam ma).
• Grammatical Breakdown: "If you ignore" (conditional clause) + "your conscience" (object) + "regret might follow" (main clause).
• Structural Analysis: Introduces conditionals, showing cause-effect with "conscience" as the central element.

Complex Sentence

• English: Although she acted against her conscience, the external pressures made it unavoidable.
• Thai: แม้ว่าเธอจะทำสิ่งที่ขัดแย้งกับจิตสำนึกของเธอ แต่แรงกดดันภายนอกทำให้มันหลีกเลี่ยงไม่ได้ (Mae wa tha thoe ja tham sing thi khat yaeng gap jit sam nuek khong thoe, tae raeng kot duan nork tham hai man leek leiang mai dai).
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Although she acted" (subordinate clause) + "against her conscience" (prepositional phrase) + "the external pressures made it unavoidable" (main clause).
• Structural Analysis: Multi-clause structure explores nuances of "conscience in Thai" culture, suitable for advanced learners.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

• Moral sense – Often used interchangeably with conscience to describe an innate ethical awareness, especially in philosophical "conscience usage examples."
• Scruples – Refers to doubts or hesitations based on conscience, highlighting internal moral conflicts in decision-making.

Antonyms:

• Indifference – The opposite of conscience, implying a lack of moral concern or emotional detachment in ethical matters.
• Amorality – Represents a state without moral standards, contrasting with the guiding role of conscience in personal and cultural contexts.

Common Collocations:

• Clear conscience – Used to describe a state of moral purity, as in "He lived with a clear conscience after confessing his mistake," emphasizing relief and honesty.
• Guilty conscience – Refers to feelings of remorse, e.g., "Her guilty conscience kept her awake at night," often in psychological or narrative settings.

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

• Cultural Point 1: In Western cultures, conscience is often tied to individualism and personal accountability, as seen in literary works like Shakespeare's plays. In Thai culture, influenced by Buddhism, "conscience in Thai" (e.g., "จิตสำนึก") emphasizes interconnectedness and karma, where moral actions affect one's spiritual path, making it a key element in daily life and community ethics.

Usage Habits:

• Habit 1: "Conscience" is frequently used in Thai conversations among younger generations in educational or social media contexts, with high popularity in moral education programs. It's less formal in everyday speech but more prevalent in group settings, reflecting collectivist values.

Grammar Explanation

• Grammatical Function: "Conscience" functions as a noun, typically as a subject, object, or part of a prepositional phrase in sentences. For example, it can be the subject in "Conscience guides us" or an object in "I trust my conscience."
• Tense and Voice: As a noun, "conscience" does not change with tense; however, it appears in various verb tenses through associated actions, e.g., "My conscience guided me" (past tense). In passive voice, it might feature as "Conscience was ignored by many," though active voice is more common for emphasis.

References

Etymology and History:

The word "conscience" originates from Latin "conscientia," meaning "knowledge within oneself," evolving through Old French to Middle English. Historically, it gained prominence during the Renaissance, linked to moral philosophy, and in modern contexts, it's central to discussions on ethics and psychology, including "conscience meaning" in global education.

Literary References:

• From William Shakespeare's "Hamlet": "Thus conscience does make cowards of us all" (Act 3, Scene 1), where conscience represents internal conflict and hesitation, a classic example of its dramatic use.
• In modern literature, from George Orwell's "1984": "The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but that it was impossible to avoid joining in," subtly referencing a suppressed conscience in totalitarian regimes.