thankfulness
/ˈθæŋk.fəl.nəs/ (bre, ipa) · [θˈæŋkfəlnɛs] /ˈθæŋk.fəl.nəs/ (ame, ipa) · [θˈæŋkfəlnɛs] /ˈthaŋk-fəl How to pronounce thankful (audio)/ (ame, mw)
thankfulness — 名詞
1. the warm feeling you have when you recognise that something good has happened to
感恩
對他人恩惠或好事發生的溫暖感受
the warm feeling you have when you recognise that something good has happened to you, often because of another person's kindness or generosity
Jisoo felt a deep sense of thankfulness when her neighbours brought meals during her illness.
Jisoo 對鄰居在她生病期間送餐來，心中充滿深深的感激。
collocation: deep sense of thankfulness
The charity received letters of thankfulness from families who had been helped through the winter.
該慈善機構收到了受助家庭寄來的感謝信，感謝他們在冬天獲得的幫助。
Kwame's thankfulness was obvious when he spoke about the teachers who had believed in him.
Kwame 談起那些相信他的老師時，感激之情溢於言表。
Ayesha closed her eyes in quiet thankfulness before the meal began.
Ayesha 在用餐前閉上眼睛，靜靜地感恩。
The team expressed their thankfulness to the volunteers who had worked through the night.
團隊對徹夜工作的志工表達了感謝。
- gratitude
more common and direct synonym; 'gratitude' is slightly more formal but used in the same contexts
- appreciation
focuses on recognising the value of what someone has done, often used in professional or formal settings
- ingratitude
the lack of gratitude or thankfulness; considered a negative quality
用法筆記
Often used with possessives (her thankfulness, their thankfulness) to connect the feeling to a specific person. Frequently paired with adjectives like deep, quiet, sincere, or profound.
常見錯誤
thankfulness — 形容詞
- thankfulnesspositive
- more thankfulnesscomparative
- most thankfulnesssuperlative
1. feeling happy and grateful because something good has happened to you or because
感激
因好事發生或得到幫助而高興感謝
feeling happy and grateful because something good has happened to you or because someone has been kind to you
Piotr was thankful for the warm coat his aunt had given him before winter arrived.
Piotr 很感激姑姑在冬天來臨前送他那件暖和的外套。
grammar: thankful for [something]
The Huang family was thankful that the storm had missed their village.
黃家很感激暴風雨繞過了他們的村莊。
grammar: thankful + that-clause
After the long hike, Mateo felt thankful for a cold drink and a place to rest.
長途健行後，Mateo 能喝到冷飲、找到地方休息，感到非常感激。
Dr. Lin said she was thankful to work alongside capable nurses in the emergency room.
林醫師說她很感激能在急診部和這麼能幹的護理人員共事。
Asher was simply thankful that no one had been hurt in the accident.
Asher 只感激車禍中沒有人受傷。
- grateful
the closest synonym; 'grateful' is slightly more common in everyday speech
- appreciative
emphasises recognising the value of help or kindness; slightly more formal
- ungrateful
not showing or feeling gratitude
文法句型
thankful for [something]
thankful (that) + clause
thankful to [do something]
用法筆記
Subject is always a person or group of people. 'Thankful' is stative — it describes a feeling state, not an action. Distinguish from sense 3 (RELIEVED AND GLAD): this sense focuses on gratitude for a positive thing, not relief that a negative thing was avoided.
常見錯誤
2. showing or communicating a feeling of gratitude through words, gestures, or acti
感謝的
以言語或行動表達謝意
showing or communicating a feeling of gratitude through words, gestures, or actions
Tamar wrote a thankful note to the librarian who had located the rare manuscript.
Tamar 寫了一封感謝信給幫她找到那本稀有手稿的圖書館員。
attributive: thankful + noun (note)
The audience gave a thankful round of applause after the moving performance.
觀眾在感人的演出後報以感謝的掌聲。
attributive: thankful + noun (round of applause)
His thankful expression told the rescuers everything they needed to know.
他那感激的表情讓救難人員明白了一切。
The refugees sent a thankful message to the country that had welcomed them.
難民們向接納他們的國家發送了一封感謝信。
- grateful
can also be used attributively but less common than 'thankful' in this pattern ('grateful words' vs 'thankful words')
- appreciative
often describes looks, smiles, or comments that show recognition of value
文法句型
thankful + noun
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used attributively — before a noun (thankful smile, thankful words, thankful prayer). It describes the outward show of gratitude, not the inner feeling (which is sense 1).
常見錯誤
3. happy and relieved because something unpleasant did not happen or because a worr
欣慰；慶幸
因壞事沒發生而高興安心
happy and relieved because something unpleasant did not happen or because a worrying situation turned out well
Hoa was thankful that her lost passport had been handed in at the hotel desk.
Hoa 很慶幸她遺失的護照被人交到了飯店櫃檯。
grammar: thankful + that-clause (relief context)
Iker was thankful to learn that his grandmother's operation had gone smoothly.
Iker 得知祖母的手術順利後，鬆了一口氣。
grammar: thankful to + infinitive
The hikers were thankful when they finally spotted the lights of a small village ahead.
登山者們終於看到前方小村莊的燈光時，都鬆了一口氣。
Gabriel was thankful that the interview had gone much better than he had expected.
Gabriel 慶幸面試進行得比預期順利許多。
- worried
the opposite feeling — anxious about a possible negative outcome
文法句型
thankful (that) + clause
thankful to [do something]
thankful when + clause
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (FEELING GRATEFUL): sense 3 emphasises relief that a feared outcome did not happen, whereas sense 1 emphasises gratitude for a positive benefit received. The same sentence can carry both meanings depending on context.