เกรงใจ [greeng jai] is one of the Thai words that are difficult to translate into English. When someone feels “เกรงใจ [greeng jai],” they feel shy or uncomfortable to ask for/get help or things from others, especially because they don’t want to cause others trouble or difficulty, or feel afraid to do something that might make someone feel bad, disrespected or offended.

For example, if a friend offers to help you look after your children when you’re running an errand, even though you might appreciate their kind offer and it would help you a lot, but because it’s a big favor and you would feel bad if they had to spend a lot of time and energy taking care of the children for you, you then feel what we describe as “เกรงใจ [greeng jai]” in Thai.

Another example, if your friend offers to let you stay over at her house and you feel uncomfortable to accept the offer because you feel bad that your friend will have to have the room prepared for you, clean the house, cook for you, drive you or basically spend a lot of time and energy doing you a favor, then you are also feeling “เกรงใจ [greeng jai].”

You might find that Thai people tend to refuse help or things from others because of this feeling of “เกรงใจ [greeng jai].” Sometimes, it might be just a small favor, but some Thai people will refuse anyway to appear polite and not greedy, even though deep down they might want it desperately. If you are faced with this situation despite your eagerness to help or offer them something, there is an expression you can use to insist that person to take the offer, help or gift from you and that is “ไม่ต้องเกรงใจ [mâi tâwng greeng jai].” The closest English translation might be “Don’t be shy,” “Don’t worry (about me),” or “You don’t need to feel bad.”

You can also use this phrase to let someone know beforehand that they don’t need to feel shy or uncomfortable doing something that might make you feel bad or offended if they have to because you won’t mind.

Examples

1. A) ดูสิ ชุดเราเปียกหมดเลย
[duu sì, chút rao pìak mòt loei]
Look, my dress is all wet.

B) เราให้ยืมชุดเอาไหม
[rao hâi yeum chút ao mái]
Do you want me to lend you mine?

A) ไม่เป็นไร เกรงใจ เดี๋ยวก็แห้งเอง
[mâi pen rai, greng jai, dǐao gâw hâeng eeng]
That’s fine. I don’t want to cause you trouble. It will dry.

B) ไม่ต้องเกรงใจ เราเตรียมมาหลายชุด
[mâi tâwng greeng jai, rao triam maa lǎai chút]
Don’t worry about me. I’ve brought a lot of clothes.

2. A) เราเพิ่งไปฮอกไกโดมา ซื้อขนมมาฝาก อร่อยมาก ลองกินดูสิ
[rao pêung pai Hokkaido maa, séu kanǒm maa fàak. aròi mâak, long gin duu sì]
I’ve just been back from Hokkaido. I bought you some snack. It’s very delicious. Try it.

B) เก็บไว้กินเองเถอะ ของอร่อยๆอย่างนี้
[gèp wái gin eeng tèr, kǎwng aròi aròi yàang níi]
Delicious snack like this, you’d better save for yourself.

A) เอาเลย ไม่ต้องเกรงใจ เราตั้งใจซื้อมาฝาก
[ao loei, mâi tâwng greeng jai, rao tâng jai séu maa fàak]
No, go ahead and try it. Don’t be shy. I bought it for you.

3. A) ฉันจะถามเป็นภาษาไทย คุณจอห์นก็ตอบเป็นภาษาไทยนะคะ
[chán jà tǎam pen pǎasǎa Thai, khun John gâw tàwp pen pǎasǎa Thai ná ká]
I’ll ask you questions in Thai and you answer me in Thai OK?, khun John.

B) โอเคครับ ถ้าผมพูดอะไรผิด ซ่อมให้ได้เลยนะครับ ไม่ต้องเกรงใจ
[OK kráp, tâa phǒm phûut arai pìt, sâwm hâi dâai loei ná kráp, mâi tâwng greeng jai]
OK, if I say anything wrong, feel free to fix it. Don’t worry to make me feel bad.

A) อ่อ ค่ะ เมื่อกี้ต้องพูดว่า “แก้ให้ได้เลย” ไม่ใช่ “ซ่อมให้ได้เลย” ค่ะ
[àw kâ, mêua gíi tâwng phûut wâa “gâe hâi dâai loei” mâi châi “sàwm hâi dâai loei” kâ]
Oh OK, you should have used the word “แก้ [gâe], not “ซ่อม [sàwm]” for “to fix.”

B) อ๋อ ครับ ขอบคุณมาก
[ǎw kráp, kàwp khun mâak]
Got it. Thanks a lot.

4. A) ถ้าอาหารของคุณมาก่อน คุณกินก่อนได้เลยนะครับ ไม่ต้องเกรงใจ
[tâa aahǎan kǎwng khun maa gàwn, khun gin gàwn dâai loei ná kráp, mâi tâwng greeng jai]
If your food is served first, you can start eating first. Don’t feel shy, OK?

B) ไม่ได้หรอกครับ ยังไงก็ต้องรอให้มาพร้อมกัน
[mâi dâai ràwk kráp, yang ngai gâw tâwng raw hâi maa práwm gan]
I can’t do that. I’ll wait until both dishes are served.

A) ไม่เป็นไรจริงๆครับ เพราะถ้าของผมมาเสิร์ฟก่อน ผมก็จะกินก่อน
[mâi pen rai jing jing kráp, práw tâa kǎwng phǒm maa serve gàwn, phǒm gâw ja gin gàwn]
It’s really OK! Because if mine is served first, I’ll eat first too!

B) งั้นก็ได้ครับ อาหารของผมมาแล้ว งั้นผมกินก่อนเลยนะครับ
[ngán gâw dâai kráp, aahǎan kǎwng phǒm maa léaw, ngán phǒm gin gàwn leoi ná kráp]
Fine then. My food is here, I’ll eat first then.

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