FeelingsGrateful in Thai
“Grateful” in Thai is กตัญญูgà-dtan-yuu; you'll also hear ซาบซึ้งsâap-súeng (deeply touched).
grateful (to your parents and those who helped you) adjective
- gà low
- dtan mid
- yuu mid
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
deeply grateful, moved adjective deeply touched
- sâap falling
- súeng high
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
How to use it
กตัญญูgà-dtan-yuu is gratitude towards the people who raised or helped you, one of the most admired Thai values. A ลูกกตัญญูlûuk gà-dtan-yuu looks after their parents in old age, and many Thais send part of their salary home. The debt of kindness behind it is บุญคุณbun-kun. For an everyday "I'm so grateful", ขอบคุณมากkàwp-kun mâak is enough, or ซาบซึ้งsâap-súeng, deeply touched.
Other spellings you'll see
There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:
- katanyu
- ka tan yu
- gatanyu
- katanyoo
- sab sueng
More feelings in Thai
All feelings
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones