Jingjok
เสียดาย: the regret of waste
sǐa-daai
เสียดาย covers a feeling English splits into several: regret for a missed chance (เสียดายที่ไม่ได้ไป), the pain of wasting food or money (เสียดายของ), and 'what a pity' when plans fall through. It explains a lot of daily behaviour: finishing every grain of rice, keeping things that might be useful, taking the leftover food home. When a friend says เสียดายจัง, a gentle ไม่เป็นไร ครั้งหน้า ('never mind, next time') is the expected answer. Thai Buddhism also has a gentler counterweight: ปล่อยวาง, letting go of what can't be changed.
Try this today
Next time plans fall through, say เสียดายจัง, then ไม่เป็นไร ครั้งหน้านะ.
The words that carry it
Learn this in “Plans, dreams, regrets” →
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.
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