What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ฉันเศร้า is composed of the pronoun chan (I) and the adjective sao (sad/sorrowful).
Which one should you use?
The word sao describes a deep, heavy feeling of sorrow. This differs from เสียใจ, which is a more common way to express feeling sad due to a specific event or feeling sorry about something.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form ฉันเศร้า is informal or neutral. The pronoun chan is typically used by females or in informal/neutral contexts, and it may sound slightly poetic or literary depending on the tone. For a formal and polite way to say "I am sad", male speakers should use ผมเศร้า (using phom instead of chan) to be grammatically correct in most social situations. The phrase ผม/ดิฉัน เศร้า is also a formal way to express this feeling.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express intensity, you can add the word mak (very) after the adjective, resulting in ฉันเศร้ามาก (I am very sad).
How do you pronounce it?
chan sao
Did you know?
- While sao means 'sad', using it in daily conversation can make you sound like a character in a Thai soap opera or a romantic novel.
- The word sao can be used to describe the 'sadness' of a landscape or a setting, such as a lonely, desolate forest, personifying the environment.
- If you use sao in a casual conversation about a minor inconvenience, like a broken pencil, people might think you are being extremely dramatic or sarcastic.
Examples in context
- เมื่อทราบข่าว ผมเศร้ามากUpon hearing the news, I am very sad.
- ผมเศร้าจังเมื่อเขาไม่ติดต่อกลับI am really sad when he doesn't get back to me.
- ฉันเศร้าเพราะเรื่องนี้chan sao phro rueang niI am sad because of this matter.
- ช่วงนี้ฉันเศร้ามากchuang ni chan sao makI am very sad lately.
Example conversation
Nicha tells Witthawat that she is feeling unhappy.
- ณิชา Nichaวิทวัส ฉันเศร้ามากเลยwitthawat chan sao mak loeiWitthawat, I am very sad.
- วิทวัส Witthawatเกิดอะไรขึ้นกับคุณหรือเปล่าkoet arai khuen kap khun rue plaoDid something happen to you?
- ณิชา Nichaฉันแค่รู้สึกไม่ค่อยดีchan khae rusuek mai khoi diI just don't feel very well.
- วิทวัส Witthawatถ้ามีอะไรบอกผมได้นะtha mi arai bok phom dai naIf there is anything, you can tell me.
