That doesn't explain the term ' Greng Jai ' in fact it is about being generous to the kids. " Greng Jai " is about manners and feelings that you have towards other people. It is about not imposing, use, or exploit other people too much. You say " I feel very Greng Jai that you give me a lift every day after work ", " I feel very Greng Jai that you cook me dinner every night ", " I feel very Greng Jai that you are so nice and helpful to me ", " I feel so Greng Jai that you look after my baby when I need without charging me " etc...

You use Greng Jai when you feel that you are being assisted, being offered things over and over and you feel that you owe them and want to give something in return. Selfhish people don't have that kind of feelings.

I didn't mean that you have to give things in return but some people might feel like doing it, if you tell them that you want to give something back, you often get ' Nahh, don't be silly '..... Then you feel more Greng Jai http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/imag...es/tongue2.gif

And can also be seen everyday how it is concieved here, Like when you are setting at a red light with your front wheels on the "wait here line" and 100 motorcycles crowd around you and in front of you til you have to wait for half the light til it is clear to move.
or when you are going down the sidewalk and there is a bunch of scooters parked on the walk and then standing in the hole thru them is 3 girls talking on cell phones and you have to walk around them and out into traffic to get around.

Obligation might be used to.

Funnily enough we had a case yesterday when the neighbours invited us to spend a week with them at a timeshare they participate in. I don't particularly want to go but I don't particularly want to offend them.

The wife explained that to go would be an example of greng jai.

I'm not sure what those things have to do with the term "graeng jai".

Those just sound like complaints with city life. http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/imag...es/tongue2.gif

Graeng Jai related to me buying crackers today and sharing them with the younger kids around me, because it would be rude to keep them to myself.

More or less translates into Respect for others..

Greng jai
 

Can anyone help me by explaining the concept/meaning of greng jai?
Many thanks.

I think English uses "afraid of" and "respecting" instead.

Two teenage girls were running around in my apartment building a few weeks ago, and let themselves into my friend's room, without knocking. These two girls would be considered ไม่เกรงใจใคร or not scared of anyone/disrespectful.

เกรงใจ is what would tell most of us that the "correct" way would be to knock and wait for an invitation into the room, because it is not our room.

A person would give up their seat to an elder because of being เกรงใจเขา

Are you looking for a litteral definition or a experiential one?

à¡Ã§ã¨ [ V ] be (too) courteous ; be considerate ; be afraid of offending ; look up with great respect

It's sort of the golden rule of Thailand... where as the Golden Rule of many is defined as 'Do unto others as you would like to be treated' But in Thailand there is so much emphasis on the first part.... 'Do unto others.... (and that's all you need to focus on...and if everyone focuses on that, we'll be fine)'

Thanks for the responses. I think I'm a bit clearer now although it seems to cover many things related to doing the right thing to others even if one doesn't fancy it and basically behaving in an unselfish way towards others.

Thanks.