"Taking Me For Granted" - Is There A Suitable Thai Expression?

[BoonToong]

Hello folks, I wonder if I can call on your knowledge to help me please?

I want to explain something to my girlfriend but I am not sure if the Thai culture even holds such a concept.

To put it in context "There are not many things that upset me in a relationship, but being taken for granted is one of them" (to explain, I am generous and good natured but in my past some people have taken advantage of this).

Her English is superb but, because of the importance of this in our relationship, I would like to say in Thai to her "please don't ever take me for granted" (said with a smile!)

So, is this concept within the Thai way of thinking and how would I say it?

My vocabulary is very limited so shorter statements would be better. I'm also okay if it is written in Thai.

Thank you in advance lovely folks.

[TommoPhysicist]

มองไม่เห็นค่า mawng mai hen = taken for granted (not appreciated)

You take me for granted would = Khun mawng mai hen kaa

Add "ja" to make it a future event

คุณ จะ มอง ไม่ เห็น ค่า Khun ja mawng mai hen kaa

might work.

Edited August 7, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[rgs2001uk]

เอาเปรียบ may be what you are looking for.

[TommoPhysicist]

ummm

Edited August 7, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[klons]

This came up on my computer.

kaewmala Thai_Idioms ‏@thai_idioms

ของตาย /khǑOng taay/ lit."dead thing"= "sure thing"; sth that's "dead certain" to occur; someone who's "taken for granted" in a relationship

[mike_l]

This came up on my computer.

kaewmala Thai_Idioms ‏@thai_idioms

ของตาย /khǑOng taay/ lit."dead thing"= "sure thing"; sth that's "dead certain" to occur; someone who's "taken for granted" in a relationship

^^ I agree with this one.

I would like to say in Thai to her "please don't ever take me for granted"

You can translate it as อย่าเห็นฉันเป็นของตาย

[GarryP]

This came up on my computer.

kaewmala Thai_Idioms ‏@thai_idioms

ของตาย /khǑOng taay/ lit."dead thing"= "sure thing"; sth that's "dead certain" to occur; someone who's "taken for granted" in a relationship

^^ I agree with this one.

I would like to say in Thai to her "please don't ever take me for granted"

You can translate it as อย่าเห็นฉันเป็นของตาย

I too agree with this one. But how about something a little less colloquial.

Edited August 8, 2012 by GarryP

[villagefarang]

I’m partial to term มองข้าม but it has to be used in a proper sentence to get your meaning across. The idea is definitely part of Thai thinking.

Sounds to me like a relationship issue, to me, not a cultural one.

Edited August 8, 2012 by villagefarang

[klons]

This is an idea from song lyrics

and may not make the top ten.

อย่าเหมาว่าฉันนั้นง่าย

I’m not sure how ฉันนั้น translates

but overall I think it would translate as

“don’t assume I’m easy.”

I just looked and ฉันนั้น is in the dictionary meaning likewise, so that phrase might need a correction.

Edited August 8, 2012 by klons

[BoonToong]

Hi everyone and thank you for all of your inputs. I need to get practicing!

I poorly worded my opening post.

Just to explain, we have a great relationship but the subject came up when we were talking about what was important to us in a long-term relationship. For me that is the only major issue (apart from the usual issues of infidelity, murder, liking cats, etc etc). She certainly hasn't been taking me for granted but we were just asking each other what things really press our buttons looking into the future.

The cultural aspect is me just asking if the Thai's bother about 'being taken for granted' at all. I have learned that there are some things I genuinely maybe 'think too much' about because it is in my nature to do so - but I'm learning!

Once again, thank you for the input.

Now, time to get my chords around those darned tones...........

[villagefarang]

When talking about such things with a loved one, a more positive approach sometimes works better. Instead of expressing a negative by saying you don’t want to be taken for granted, one could alternately say that your partner comes first in your eyes and will always be the main focus of your attentions. Followed by a little aside, expressing hope that she feels the same way. Just a thought.

Edited August 8, 2012 by villagefarang

[GarryP]

When talking about such things with a loved one, a more positive approach sometimes works better. Instead of expressing a negative by saying you don’t want to be taken for granted, one could alternately say that your partner comes first in your eyes and will always be the main focus of your attentions. Followed by a little aside, expressing hope that she feels the same way. Just a thought.

What a thoughtful post. Not thinking of starting up a VillageFarang Advice Column by any chance?

[villagefarang]

When talking about such things with a loved one, a more positive approach sometimes works better. Instead of expressing a negative by saying you don’t want to be taken for granted, one could alternately say that your partner comes first in your eyes and will always be the main focus of your attentions. Followed by a little aside, expressing hope that she feels the same way. Just a thought.

What a thoughtful post. Not thinking of starting up a VillageFarang Advice Column by any chance?

I know, I know but it is a cross I am cursed with bearing. My wife used to tell friends she was married to Dr. Phil. Medication doesn't seem to help. Edited August 9, 2012 by villagefarang

[Somtamnication]

When talking about such things with a loved one, a more positive approach sometimes works better. Instead of expressing a negative by saying you don’t want to be taken for granted, one could alternately say that your partner comes first in your eyes and will always be the main focus of your attentions. Followed by a little aside, expressing hope that she feels the same way. Just a thought.

What a thoughtful post. Not thinking of starting up a VillageFarang Advice Column by any chance?

Most definitively a good idea. I would call his column "The go to farang to avoid the sharp knife cutting Nong Chai" syndrome.

[Will2011]

Hi everyone and thank you for all of your inputs. I need to get practicing!

I poorly worded my opening post.

Just to explain, we have a great relationship but the subject came up when we were talking about what was important to us in a long-term relationship. For me that is the only major issue (apart from the usual issues of infidelity, murder, liking cats, etc etc). She certainly hasn't been taking me for granted but we were just asking each other what things really press our buttons looking into the future.

The cultural aspect is me just asking if the Thai's bother about 'being taken for granted' at all. I have learned that there are some things I genuinely maybe 'think too much' about because it is in my nature to do so - but I'm learning!

Once again, thank you for the input.

Now, time to get my chords around those darned tones...........

I don't know how to say that expression in Thai. However, the form you would like to express what you want to say may appear a bit unclear for non native speakers. A solution for your recipient to understand is to paraphrase what you want to say without wordiness.

So, my suggestion would be to keep in simple, especially when you talk. Even a native speaker might have problems to get your expression without asking you to repeat it. Imagine a non native...

I've been working with non native speakers...

[BoonToong]

Thank you for all the helpful language advice.

I only said "There are not many things that upset me in a relationship, but being taken for granted is one of them" to give an example, in context, of what I was trying to say but had no intention of actually saying it like that.

As it turned out, we had the discussion about different aspects of the future and she understood after we both used examples (in a mixture of Thai and English) of what had happened to us in the past in different relationships. We now have a better understanding of each other and I have learned a little more Thai :-)

Thank you again guys.