กราบ
prostrate oneself before
Native recording
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- 1 prostrate oneself before、bow down in reverence to
- 2 humbly and respectfully、with profound respect
- 3 gunwale、side of a boat or ship
It primarily describes prostrating oneself to show profound respect or reverence, and it can also mark extremely respectful speech. As a noun, it refers to the side of a boat or ship.
prostrate oneself before、bow down in reverence to
To lower oneself in a prostrating gesture as a physical expression of profound respect or reverence.
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กราบพระ kràap phrá bow down before a Buddha image กราบพระ details
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ไปกราบพ่อขอพร pay kràap phɔ̂ɔ khɔ̌ɔ phɔɔn bow down before one's father and ask for his blessing ไปกราบพ่อขอพร details
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กราบพ่อแม่ kràap phɔ̂ɔ mɛ̂ɛ bow down before one's parents กราบพ่อแม่ details
humbly and respectfully、with profound respect
Used with another verb to frame speaking, thanking, requesting, or taking leave as exceptionally humble and respectful.
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กราบเรียนท่านประธาน kràap rian thân prathaan I respectfully address the chairperson. กราบเรียนท่านประธาน details
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ขอกราบขอบพระคุณทุกท่าน khɔ̌ɔ kràap khɔ̀ɔp phrá khun thúk thân I would like to express my deepest thanks to everyone. ขอกราบขอบพระคุณทุกท่าน details
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ผมขอกราบลา phǒm khɔ̌ɔ kràap laa With your permission, I respectfully take my leave. ผมขอกราบลา details
gunwale、side of a boat or ship
A nautical term for either side of a boat or ship, especially its upper edge or gunwale.
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กราบทางซ้ายของเรือ kràap thaaŋ sáay khɔ̌ɔŋ rʉa the left side of the boat กราบทางซ้ายของเรือ details
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คลื่นซัดเข้ากราบเรือ khlʉ̂ʉn sát khâw kràap rʉa The waves struck the side of the boat. คลื่นซัดเข้ากราบเรือ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image is of lowering the body beneath someone or something to express profound respect. The gesture is used not only before Buddha images and monks but also ceremonially with parents, teachers, and other deeply respected people. This image extends into highly respectful expressions such as กราบเรียน, “to address or inform someone most respectfully.” In conversation and on social media, expressions such as กราบขอบคุณ may also exaggerate gratitude, sometimes with a playful tone. Separately, the noun กราบ is a nautical term meaning the side or gunwale of a vessel. The reported meaning “until” is not sufficiently established as a normal modern use of this word and is therefore omitted here.
Usage
It is used when paying reverence to Buddha images or monks and in ceremonies honoring parents, teachers, or other respected figures. Forms such as กราบเรียน occur in formal addresses, letters, ceremonies, and reports to senior people. The noun sense is limited to boating and nautical contexts.
Caution
Ordinary greetings normally use ไหว้. Using กราบ for a routine greeting between friends or coworkers can sound theatrically deferential or humorous. It should not automatically be understood as a humiliating act or an apology; it is often a respected ceremonial gesture. กราบทูล is reserved for addressing royalty, while กราบเรียน is used for formal communication with other respected or senior people.
Differences from similar words
1 prostrate oneself before synonyms
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ไหว้ is the common palms-together gesture used for greetings and respect. กราบ is a deeper, more formal act of reverence in which the body and head are lowered much further.
2 humbly and respectfully synonyms
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เรียน is widely used to address or inform a superior politely. Expressions with กราบ convey a stronger degree of humility and are suited to more formal situations.