In English, the word “jealous” can refer to two different emotions. One is “to be upset and angry because someone that you love seems interested in another person” and the other is “to be unhappy and angry because someone has something that you want.”

In Thai, we use two different words to describe each emotion. In the first case, that is when you feel jealous because another man or woman gets close to the woman or man that you love, we use the word “หึง” [hěung] to describe the feeling. 

When you feel jealous because someone has something that you want to have but don’t, we use the word “อิจฉา” [ìdchǎa]. Therefore, “หึงสามี” [hěung sǎamii] and “อิจฉาสามี” [ìdchǎa sǎamii] mean two different things. “หึงสามี” [hěung sǎamii] means you feel jealous because another woman seems interested in your husband but “อิจฉาสามี” [ìdchǎa sǎamii] means you feel jealous that your husband has something that you don’t have.

We also have two different adjectives to describe someone who’s jealous. We use “ขี้หึง” [kîi hěung] to describe someone who easily gets jealous when another man/woman gets close to the person they love and “ขี้อิจฉา” [kîi ìdchǎa] to describe someone who tends to get jealous when they learn someone else has what they want but they don’t have. Take a look at the examples below for better understanding.

Examples

ฉันรู้สึกหึงเหลือเกินที่สามีของฉันทำงานใกล้ชิดกับเลขาของเขา แต่ฉันก็เข้าใจว่าเขาต้องมีเลขา
[Chán rúu sèuk hěung lěua gern tîi sǎamii kǎwng chán tam ngaan glâi chít gàp laykǎa kǎwng káo tâe chán gâw kâojai wâa káo dtâwng mii laykǎa]
I feel so jealous that my husband works closely with his secretary. But I understand that he needs to have one.

ที่รัก คุณพยายามอย่าคุยกับผู้ชายหล่อต่อหน้าผมได้ไหม ผมอดรู้สึกหึงไม่ได้จริงๆ
[Tîi rák, khun payayaam yàa kui gàp pûuchaai làw dtàw nâa phom dâai mái. Phom òd rúu sèuk hěung mâi dâai jing jing]
Darling, can you try not to talk to handsome men in front of me? I can’t help but feel jealous.

แฟนเราขี้หึงมาก โทรมาถามว่าอยู่กับใครทุกๆชั่วโมง เลิกเลยดีไหม
[Fan rao kîi hěung mâak, to maa tǎam wâa yùu gàp krai túk túk châu mong. Lêrk loei dii mái]
My boyfriend is very jealous. He calls to ask who I am with every hour. Should I just break up with him?

เพื่อนที่บริษัทฉันเพิ่งซื้อไอโฟนเครื่องใหม่ อิจฉามันสุดๆ ฉันเบื่อไอโฟนสี่ของฉันมากแล้ว
[Pêuan tîi borisàt chán pêung séu iPhone krêuang mài. Ìdchǎa man sùd sùd. Chán bêua iPhone4 kǎwng chán mâak léaw]
My co-worker just bought a new iPhone. I’m so jealous of her. I’m sick of my iPhone4!

เธอไม่ต้องอิจฉาฉันหรอก ฉันไปทำงาน ไม่ได้ไปเที่ยว
[Ter mâi dtǎwng ìdchǎa chán ràwk. Chán pai tam ngaan, mâi dâi pai tîaw]
You don’t need to be jealous of me. I’m going there for work, not for vacation.

เราไม่ชอบเลยที่น้องสาวเราเป็นคนขี้อิจฉา เขาน่าจะดีใจกับฉันที่ฉันสอบได้ ถึงแม้แฟนเขาจะสอบตกก็เถอะ
[Rao mâi châwp loei tîi náwng saao rao pen kon kîi ìdchǎa. Káo nâa jà diijai gàp chán tîi chán sàwp dâai teung máe káo jà sàwp tòk gâw tèr]
I hate that my sister is a jealous person. She should be happy for me that I passed the exams even though she failed them.

Photo credit: http://www.socialchumbak.com

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