Comforting Words for the Brokenhearted in Thailand

Live for a while in Thailand, and you are bound to encounter some brokenhearted friends or acquaintances. As a beginning learner of the Thai language, you’ll struggle to find the right Thai words to comfort the person with a broken heart, or as it’s called in Thai “ok hak” (อกหัก), which literally means broken breast or soul.

So, I’ve compiled a short list of what I consider to be some of the best sentiments to express when someone in Thailand feels crushed due to bad love affair or any other type of heartbreaking misfortune, not including those expressions which the Thai person might feel are overused, trite, or unhelpful.

For example, many Thais will use the phrase “sôo sôo” (สู้ๆ), which literally means “fight fight,” as an expression of encouragement, and just as many Thais privately hate this expression when feeling dejected because they aren’t fighting anything.

So, I’d recommend not using “sôo sôo” with a heartbroken Thai friend, even though you see it in a lot of social media posts in Thailand. Instead, use one of the following.

7 Expressions to Help Thais with a Broken Heart

1. โดนทำร้ายมาแค่ไหน ฉันจะอยู่ข้างๆเธอนะ
Dohn tam ráai mah kâe-năi, chăn jà yòo kâhng kâhng ter ná.
No matter how much you have been hurt, I will always be by your side.

2. ให้เธอยิ้มนะ แล้วก็หัวใจเธอจะยิ้มด้วยกัน จริงๆ เชื่อฉันเถอะ
Hâi ter yím ná. Láew gôr hŭa-jai ter jà yím dûay-gan. Jing jing. Chêua chăn tùh!
Smile, and then your heart will also smile. It’s the truth. Trust me!

3. เข้มแข็งไว้ ฉันเป็นกำลังใจให้อยู่
Kây-má-kăeng wái. Chăn bpen gam-lang jai hâi yòo.
Stay strong. I’m rooting for you.

4. เลิกคิดถึงเขาซะที โลกยังรอให้คุณค้นหาอยู่นะ
Lêrk kít tĕung kăo sá tee. Lôhk yang ror hâi khun kón-hăa yòo ná.
Quit thinking about him/her! The world is waiting for you to find it.

5. ถ้าเต็มที่แล้วก็ไม่มีอะไรต้องเสียใจนี่
Tâh dtem têe, láew gôr mâi mee a-rai dtông sĭa-jai nêe.
If you did your best, there is nothing to regret.

6. ชีวิตมันไม่มีวันง่ายขึ้นหรอก มีแต่เราที่ต้องแข็งแกร่งขึ้น อย่ายอมแพ้
Chee-wít man mâi mee wan-ngâai kêun ròk. Mee dtàe rao têe dtông kăeng gràeng kêun. Yàh yom páe!
Life doesn’t get easier. We need only to become stronger. Never give up!

7. พระเจ้าจะไม่ให้ปัญหาเรามาโดยปราศจากหนทางแก้ไข ฉันจะช่วยเธอหานะ
Prá-jâo jà mâi hâi bpan-hăh rao mah doi bpràht-sà-jàak hŏn tahng gâe kăi. Chăn jà chûay ter hăh ná.
God doesn’t give us problems without a way out. I will help you find it.

Note that in this list of expressions for the Thai heartbroken I am using two words for “you”. The colloquial word “ter” (เธอ) should only be used with close women friends of your approximate age or ladies younger than you. In all other instances, you should use the politer form “khun” (คุณ), which can be used for both men and women.

I am also using the colloquial “chan” (ฉัน) to refer to “I”. This can be replaced as desired with the politer form “phom” (ผม).

Author
Recent Posts

David Alan

Ajarn at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University

David Alan is an educator, writer, and podcaster who has been working with Thai universities for over 20 years. He has co-written several books on learning the Thai language, and lives with his Thai wife and daughters on a farm in Sakon Nakhon (Northeast Thailand).

Comforting Words for the Brokenhearted in Thailand

7 Expressions to Help Thais with a Broken Heart

Popular Sakon Nakhon Posts