Lesson 1: Describing Feelings & Emotions in Detail
Core & Everyday Vocabulary (Expanding) (B1)
Welcome to our B1 series! We will now expand your vocabulary to help you express yourself with more detail and nuance1. You already know basic feeling words like 'happy' and 'sad'. But in English, there are many words to describe the *different levels* of these emotions2. This lesson will teach you more specific words so you can say exactly how you feel.
Beyond "Happy"
| content3 | សប្បាយចិត្ត | Peacefully happy and satisfied with what you have. Example: "After a good meal with my family, I felt content." |
| thrilled4 | រំភើប | Extremely happy and excited. Example: "She was thrilled when she heard she won the competition." |
Beyond "Sad"
| upset5 | ខកចិត្ត | Unhappy or worried because of something unexpected. Example: "He was upset that his friend forgot his birthday." |
| miserable6 | ទុក្ខវេទនា | Extremely sad and unhappy. Example: "I felt miserable when I was sick all week." |
Beyond "Tired" & "Scared"
| exhausted7 | ហត់នឿយ | Extremely tired; having no energy left. Example: "After exploring the temples all day, I was exhausted." |
| anxious8 | ថប់បារម្ភ | Feeling worried or nervous about an uncertain future event. Example: "I feel anxious before a big exam." |
| terrified9 | ភ័យខ្លាចយ៉ាងខ្លាំង | Extremely scared. Example: "The loud thunder made the small dog feel terrified." |
Usage Note: Adjective Endings "-ed" vs. "-ing"
This is a very important grammar point for describing feelings.
- -ed adjectives describe your feeling. (How a person feels).
Example: "I was bored in the meeting." - -ing adjectives describe the thing that causes the feeling.
Example: "The meeting was boring."
More examples: "I am confused because the map is confusing." "He is interested in history because the book is interesting."
In Conversation
Bora sees that Srey looks worried after a job interview.
Bora: Srey, you look upset. What happened?
Srey: I had an interview today, and I think it went badly. I felt so anxious before it started.
Bora: Oh no. Why do you think it was bad?
Srey: The questions were confusing. I am interested in the job, but the interview itself was not very interesting. Now I just feel exhausted.
Bora: I'm sorry to hear that. Don't be too sad. Remember when you got your teaching certificate? You were so thrilled!
Srey: That's true. I felt so happy and content. I just hope I don't feel miserable if I don't get this job.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. You worked 12 hours and have no energy left. You are ______.
- a) tired
- b) content
- c) exhausted
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) exhausted (This is a stronger word than 'tired').
2. Choose the correct words: "The movie was very ______, so I felt ______."
- a) boring, bored
- b) bored, boring
- c) bored, bored
Click to see the answer
Answer: a) boring, bored (The movie causes the feeling, you feel the emotion).
3. Which word is a stronger way to say 'very happy and excited'?
- a) content
- b) thrilled
- c) anxious
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) thrilled
edit Your Mission
- My Feelings in Detail: Think of a time you felt very happy and a time you felt very tired. Write two sentences using "thrilled" and "exhausted".
- -ED vs. -ING: Complete these sentences: "The book was very ______ (interest), so I was not ______ (bore)."
- Speak: Your mission is to tell a friend about something you find "interesting" and something that makes you feel "tired."
book Lesson Glossary
- Nuance (noun) - Khmer: ភាពខុសគ្នា - A small, subtle difference in meaning. ↩
- Emotion (noun) - Khmer: អារម្មណ៍ - A strong feeling, such as love, anger, or fear. ↩
- content (adjective) - Khmer: សប្បាយចិត្ត - Peacefully happy and satisfied. ↩
- thrilled (adjective) - Khmer: រំភើប - Extremely happy and excited. ↩
- upset (adjective) - Khmer: ខកចិត្ត - Unhappy or worried because of something unexpected. ↩
- miserable (adjective) - Khmer: ទុក្ខវេទនា - Extremely sad and unhappy. ↩
- exhausted (adjective) - Khmer: ហត់នឿយ - Extremely tired. ↩
- anxious (adjective) - Khmer: ថប់បារម្ភ - Feeling worried or nervous about the future. ↩
- terrified (adjective) - Khmer: ភ័យខ្លាចយ៉ាងខ្លាំង - Extremely scared. ↩