Daily Thai Confidence — Using นับถือ (náb-thěu)

Verb: นับถือ (náb-t^hěu)
Meaning: to respect / to have respect for / to hold someone in high regard

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the verb นับถือ (náb-t^hěu), which means ‘to respect,’ ‘to have respect for,’ or ‘to hold someone in high regard.’ It is used when you admire someone and regard them as worthy of respect, often because of their character, age, experience, knowledge, achievements, or position.

It made up of two words:

• นับ (náb) = to count
• ถือ (t^hěu) = to hold / to regard / to consider

Together, นับถือ (náb-t^hěu) has an established meaning ‘to respect’ or ‘to hold in high regard.’ It often has a stronger sense of admiration or esteem.

The typical structure usually follows the pattern: subject + นับถือ (náb-t^hěu).

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

ฉันนับถือครูของฉัน

chǎn náb-t^hěu k^hrūu k^hǎwng-chǎn
Literal: I respect teacher belonging to-me.
I respect my teacher. / I hold my teacher in high regard.

The noun ครู (k^hrūu) means ‘teacher’ or ‘educator.’ It is one of the most common Thai words for someone whose role is to teach, educate, or train others. For example: นักเรียนเชื่อฟังครู (nák-rīan chêua-fāng k^hrūu = Students obey their teacher.); เธอเป็นครูสอนภาษาไทย (t^hēr bpēn k^hrūu sǎwn p^hāa-sǎa Thāi = She is a Thai language teacher.); ครูของฉันเป็นคนใจดี (k^hrūu k^hǎwng-chǎn bpēn k^hōn jāi-dēe = My teacher is kind.), etc.

ผมนับถือเขาเพราะว่าเขาทำงานหนักมาตลอด

p^hǒm náb-t^hěu k^hǎo p^hrót wâa k^hǎo t^hām-ngāan ^hnàk māa dtà-^hlàwd
Literal: I respect him because he do-work heavy come.
I respect him because he has always worked hard.

The adverb มาตลอด (māa dtà-^hlàwd) means ‘all along,’ ‘throughout,’ ‘continuously,’ or ‘ever since.’ It is particularly common when talking about something that has been true or happening for a long time and continuing all the way up to that point — subject + verb + มาตลอด (māa dtà-^hlàwd). For example: ฉันอยู่ที่นี่มาตลอด (chǎn ^awyùu t^hêe-nêe māa dtà-^hlàwd = I’ve been here all along.); เธอรักเขามาตลอด (t^hēr rák k^hǎo māa dtà-^hlàwd = She has loved him all along.); เธอเป็นเพื่อนที่ดีมาตลอด (t^hēr bpēn p^hêuan t^hêe dēe māa dtà-^hlàwd = She has always been a good friend.); etc.

ฉันนับถือใจของเธอมาก

chǎn náb-t^hěu jāi k^hǎwng-t^hēr mâak
Literal: I respect heart belonging to her very much.
I really admire her strength (or courage).

The phrase นับถือใจ (náb-t^hěu jāi) means ‘to admire someone’s strength, courage, or spirit. It focuses on admiration for someone’s determination, courage, or strength of character.

เขาเป็นคนที่ฉันนับถือมาก

k^hǎo bpēn k^hōn t^hêe chǎn náb-t^hěu mâak
Literal: He to be person that I respect very.
He is someone whom I greatly respect.

The grammatical structure เป็นคนที่ (bpēn k^hōn t^hêe) means ‘to be someone who…’ or ‘to be a person who…’ It is used to describe a person’s character, habits, qualities, or typical behaviour — subject + เป็นคนที่ (bpēn k^hōn t^hêe) + verb / adjective clause. For example: ฉันเป็นคนที่ชอบทำอาหาร (chǎn bpēn k^hōn t^hêe châwb t^hām āa-hǎan = I am someone who likes cooking.); เขาเป็นคนที่ทำงานหนัก (k^hǎo bpēn k^hōn t^hêe t^hām-ngāan ^hnàk = He is someone who works hard.); พ่อเป็นคนที่ใจดีมาก (p^hâw bpēn k^hōn t^hêe jāi-dēe mâak = Dad is a very kind person.), etc.

When the verb นับถือ (náb-t^hěu) is used with a religion, it has a different meaning from its usual meaning ‘to respect.’ In this context: subject + นับถือ (náb-t^hěu) + religion, it means ‘to follow,’ ‘to practise,’ or ‘to profess a religion.’ It tells us which religion a person follows or practises.

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

ฉันนับถือศาสนาพุทธ

chǎn náb-t^hěu sàad-sà-^hnǎa p^húd
Literal: I follow religion Buddhism.
I follow Buddhism. / I am a Buddhist.

ผมนับถือศาสนาคริสต์

p^hǒm náb-t^hěu sàad-sà-^hnǎa k^hrís
Literal: I follow religion Christianity.
I follow Christianity. / I am a Christian.

เธอนับถือศาสนาอิสลาม

t^hēr náb-t^hěu sàad-sà-^hnǎa ìt-sà-lāam
Literal: She follow religion Islam.
She follows Hinduism.

Homework (การบ้าน — gāan-bâan)

Practise putting your newly learned Thai word into a sentence by translating the following sentences below.

1. What religion do you follow?
2. Every student respect this teacher.
3. I respect him as a leader.
4. I respect people who don’t give up when they face problems.
5. I admire her courage for speaking the truth.

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