guilt
ความรู้สึกผิด - Thai translation
Main Translations
In the English-Thai dictionary, "guilt" primarily refers to a feeling of responsibility or remorse for a wrongdoing. This word often carries emotional weight, especially in personal, social, and legal contexts.
Thai Primary Translation: ความรู้สึกผิด (kwam roo seuk phit) Phonetic: Kwam roo seuk phit (pronounced with a soft, rising tone on "phit", similar to "pit" in English but with a gentle stop). Explanation: In Thai culture, "ความรู้สึกผิด" goes beyond just a simple emotion—it's deeply intertwined with concepts like "saving face" (การรักษาหน้า, gan rak-sa naa) and Buddhist principles of karma (กฎแห่งกรรม, got laeang gam). Thais often use this term to express internal conflict or regret in daily life, such as after making a mistake in relationships or work. For instance, it evokes a sense of moral obligation rather than harsh self-punishment, reflecting Thailand's collectivist society where harmony is valued over individual guilt. In everyday Thai conversations, people might say it casually to admit fault, like in family disputes, but it's rarely shouted—tone and context soften its impact to maintain social bonds. Secondary translations include "ความสำนึกผิด" (kwam sam-nuk phit) for a more formal or reflective sense of remorse, often used in legal or educational settings.Usage Overview
"Guilt" and its Thai equivalents are commonly used in scenarios involving personal reflection, apologies, or ethical dilemmas. In Thailand, this concept appears frequently in interpersonal relationships, where expressing guilt helps restore balance and avoid conflict. Urban areas like Bangkok tend to use it in professional or modern contexts, such as workplace errors, while rural regions, like those in Chiang Mai, might frame it through community values or spiritual lenses, emphasizing collective harmony over individual blame. For example, in Bangkok's fast-paced environment, guilt might surface in business negotiations, whereas in Chiang Mai's more traditional settings, it's often tied to family obligations or cultural festivals.
Example Sentences
Here are a few practical examples of "guilt" in action, tailored to real-life Thai scenarios. We've selected three relevant ones: everyday conversation, business context, and a literary reference, as these best capture the word's nuances for learners and travelers.
Everyday Conversation
English: I feel a lot of guilt for forgetting your birthday. Thai: ฉันรู้สึกผิดมากที่ลืมวันเกิดของคุณ (Chan roo seuk phit mak thi leum wan geert khong khun). Brief Notes: This sentence is perfect for casual chats with friends or family in Thailand, where admitting guilt helps maintain relationships. In Thai culture, adding words like "มาก" (mak, meaning "a lot") softens the statement and shows sincerity without escalating tension—common in Bangkok coffee shop talks.Business Context
English: The team expressed guilt over the project delay, but we're committed to fixing it. Thai: ทีมงานรู้สึกผิดกับความล่าช้าของโครงการ แต่เราพร้อมที่จะแก้ไข (Tim ngan roo seuk phit gap kwam laa cha khong kong ja korn, tae rao prom thi ja gae hai). Usage Context: In a Bangkok business meeting, this might come up when discussing mistakes, as Thais value politeness and face-saving. Use it to show accountability without assigning blame, which could otherwise disrupt the group's harmony.Literary or Media Reference
English: The character's guilt over his past actions drives the entire story. Thai: ความรู้สึกผิดของตัวละครต่อการกระทำในอดีตเป็นแรงผลักดันทั้งเรื่อง (Kwam roo seuk phit khong dtua la korn tor gan kra tham nai a dit pen raeng plaak dan thang reuang). Source: Inspired by Thai literature like "Kru Suwat" by Sri Burapha, where themes of remorse are common in stories about personal growth. In Thai media, such as TV dramas, guilt often symbolizes redemption, reflecting Buddhist influences on storytelling.Related Expressions
Synonyms/Related Terms:- ความสำนึกผิด (kwam sam-nuk phit) - Use this for a more introspective or formal sense of guilt, like in therapy or self-reflection sessions, which is popular in urban Thai counseling.
- เศร้าใจ (sa-rao jai) - This is a softer synonym for emotional regret, often used in everyday life to describe a heavy heart, such as after disappointing someone in a relationship.
- ความรู้สึกผิดบาป (kwam roo seuk phit baap) - Literally "guilty sin," this is used in religious or moral contexts, like during Songkran festivals when Thais reflect on past wrongs.
- ปล่อยให้รู้สึกผิด (plaoy hai roo seuk phit) - Meaning "to let someone feel guilty," this collocation appears in family dynamics, such as a parent subtly encouraging remorse in a child.