Jingjok
น่ารัก: the compliment for everything
nâa-rák
น่ารัก literally means 'worth loving', and Thais use it far more widely than English 'cute'. Babies, cats and cartoon stickers are น่ารัก, of course. But so is a person who is kind and considerate: เขาน่ารักมาก often means 'he's a really nice guy'. A thoughtful gesture gets น่ารักจัง 'that's so sweet of you'. A neat café, a handwritten note and a good-natured foreigner trying Thai can all be น่ารัก. It is warm and safe to say to almost anyone, including older people when they do something kind. If someone calls your Thai น่ารัก, take it as encouragement, and keep going.
Try this today
Tell someone who does something kind for you today: น่ารักจัง.
The words that carry it
Learn this in “Describing people and things” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Culture cards in Jingjok are tied to the words that carry them, each ending in one thing to try today.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.