กรรม
karma
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 karma、consequences of one’s deeds
- 2 act、deed
- 3 object [grammar]
- 4 Oh no!、What a shame!
This word centers on deeds and the consequences they bring. By itself, it often suggests bad karma or misfortune, while in grammar it has the separate meaning “object.”
karma、consequences of one’s deeds
Karma understood as the consequences produced by one’s deeds, often with an emphasis on bad karma or present suffering caused by past actions.
-
เขาเชื่อเรื่องกรรม khǎw chʉ̂a rʉ̂aŋ kam He believes in karma. เขาเชื่อเรื่องกรรม details
Show more (1)
-
กรรมตามสนอง kam taam sanɔ̌ɔŋ Karma catches up with someone. กรรมตามสนอง details
act、deed
An act or deed, especially as used in moral, religious, legal, or compound expressions rather than as the usual neutral word for an everyday action.
-
กรรมดี kam dii a good deed กรรมดี details
-
กรรมชั่ว kam chûa an evil deed กรรมชั่ว details
Show more (1)
-
กรรมคือการกระทำ kam khʉʉ kaan kratham Karma means action. กรรมคือการกระทำ details
object [grammar]
In grammar, the person or thing affected by or receiving the action of a verb—the object.
-
ประโยคนี้ไม่มีกรรม pràyòok níi mây mii kam This sentence has no object. ประโยคนี้ไม่มีกรรม details
Oh no!、What a shame!
A casual exclamation of disappointment, frustration, or pity, similar to “Oh no!” or “What a shame!”
-
กรรม! ลืมกุญแจอีกแล้ว kam lʉʉm kuncɛɛ ìik lɛ́ɛw Oh no! I forgot my keys again. กรรม! ลืมกุญแจอีกแล้ว details
-
กรรมของฉันจริง ๆ kam khɔ̌ɔŋ chǎn ciŋ ciŋ I really have the worst luck. กรรมของฉันจริง ๆ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central idea of กรรม is a deed and the result it produces. In Buddhist thought, karma can be either good or bad, but in everyday use the word by itself often evokes bad karma, its consequences, or seemingly unavoidable misfortune. Common patterns include ทำกรรม “to create karma,” รับกรรม “to face the consequences,” and ใช้กรรม “to undergo the consequences of karma and repay one’s debt.” กรรม also appears as an element in many words. In compounds such as กิจกรรม “activity” and อุตสาหกรรม “industry,” the compound has its own meaning, so กรรม should not be translated separately as “karma.” ถึงแก่กรรม is a formal expression meaning “to pass away.” It is best learned as a fixed expression rather than interpreted through the usual meaning of กรรม.
Usage
It is common in discussions of Buddhism, morality, life, and the consequences of good or bad deeds. In everyday conversation, speakers may describe misfortune as their กรรม or use กรรม! as a brief expression of frustration or dismay. In Thai grammar classes, กรรม is also used for “object,” alongside ประธาน “subject” and กริยา “verb.”
Caution
Do not freely use กรรม as the neutral everyday word for any action; การกระทำ is usually more natural for that purpose. กรรม can add a moral or religious tone. Attributing another person’s illness, disability, or hardship to กรรมเก่า can sound judgmental and may be deeply hurtful.
Differences from similar words
1 karma synonyms
-
บาป means sin or a morally wrong deed. กรรม can include both deeds and their consequences, whether good or bad, although the word alone often evokes negative consequences.
-
เคราะห์ focuses on bad luck or a misfortune that befalls someone. กรรม can imply that the misfortune is a consequence of past deeds.
2 act synonyms
-
การกระทำ is the neutral, general term for an action or act. กรรม often carries moral or religious associations and is more common in fixed expressions and compounds.
4 Oh no! synonyms
-
เวรกรรม is a more established exclamation of dismay, shock, or frustration. กรรม by itself is shorter and is especially common in casual speech and online writing.