Jai Words (Words of the Heart)

A nice feature of the Thai language is the way they create words describing emotions or characteristics as 'heart words'.

heart     hua jai

heart, mind, spirit             jai

The Thai word for heart is hua jai. That is the physical organ in your chest. Just like in English, the word heart is also associated with a more spiritual level to describe feelings or characteristics. In this sense, Thais tend to use jai.

Words that describe emotions or feelings generally end with jai. For example, dee jai is to be happy or pleased. The word dee means 'good'. You can see therefore that, as described in the previous lesson, the word jai is being combined with other words from the Thai language to create the feeling of the emotion described. In this case 'good heart'.

There are literally hundreds of jai words in the Thai language but we will only look at some of the more common examples.

bplairk jai                            wonder / confuse   bplairk =strange

bplee-an jai                        change mind        bplee-an =change

bpralaht jai                         surpised               bpralaht = surprise

cheu-a jai                           believe in              cheu-a=believw

chorp jai                             like / be pleased   chorp=like        

dee jai                                 happy / pleased   dee=good

dtahm jai                            go along with       dtahm= follow  

dtang jai                             intend                  dtang = establish

dtem jai                              excited                 dtem = full

gamlang jai                        have willpower      gamlang = strength

gep jai                                 hide feelings       gep = collect

gloom jai                            worried                 gloom = worry

greng jai                            considerate / respectful    greng = fear

hen jai                                 sympathise          hen = see

jap jai                                  touching              jap = touch

jep jai                                  feel hurt               jep = hurt

jit jai                                    emotional / mental state               jit = mind

jing jai                                 sincere                 jing = true

kao jai                                 understand          kao = to enter

korp jai                                thankful               korp = thanks

mun jai                                become sure of a person               munkong = sturdy / stable

nair jai                                 certain                 nair = sure

poom jai                             proud                   poom = proud

por jai                                  satisfied              por = enough

sabai jai                              content                sabai = comfortable

sao jai                                 sad                      sao = sad

see-a jai                              upset / broken hearted                  see-a = broken

son jai                                 interested            son = interest

tam jai                                 accept                 tam = do / done

touk jai                                to one's liking      touk = correct/right

wai jai                                 trust                     wai = keep, store

Words that describe characteristics generally start with with jai:

jai dee                                 kind / generous                dee = good

jai dum                                mean / nasty                   dum = black

jai glah                                brave                               glah = bravery

jai hin                                  adament                          hin = stone

jai kairng                             strong willed                    kairng = hard

jai ngai                                gullible                            ngai = easy

jai orn                                  compliant                       orn = soft

jai raai                                 bad / cruel / heartless     raai = bad

jai rorn                                impetuous / hot-headed rorn = hot

jai soo                                 determined                    soo = fight

jai yen                                 calm / cool                     yen = cool

The full meaning of some of these jai words cannot be conveyed in the simple tables above. Two commonly heard jai words that often cause confusion are:

greng jai

This is a very Thai concept that will not translate to any single English word. It can be used to convey a sense of indebtedness and not wanting to impose any more. Thais will also use it in the sense of feeling the need to repay a favour. It can also be used in a sense of being fearful of causing offence or annoyance.

mun jai

This is a complimentary word. It is used in the case of coming to trust somebody. It indicates that perhaps there was previously a feeling of doubt but that has now passed and you have faith in the subject.