感激 (gǎnjī) — to be grateful; gratitude

感激 (gǎnjī)

感激 expresses a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation toward someone who has helped, supported, or done something significant for you, going beyond a simple "thank you."

Meanings

1. [verb] to feel grateful; to be deeply thankful; to appreciate deeply
2. [noun] gratitude; deep appreciation

Example Sentences

她非常感激老师多年来的悉心指导，这份恩情她将铭记终生。 Tā fēicháng gǎnjī lǎoshī duō nián lái de xīxīn zhǐdǎo, zhè fèn ēnqíng tā jiāng míngjì zhōngshēng. She is deeply grateful for the teacher's careful guidance over the years and will remember this kindness for the rest of her life.

他在获奖感言中，向所有帮助过他的人表达了深深的感激之情。 Tā zài huòjiǎng gǎnyán zhōng, xiàng suǒyǒu bāngzhùguò tā de rén biǎodá le shēnshēn de gǎnjī zhī qíng. In his acceptance speech, he expressed deep gratitude to everyone who had helped him.

我心怀感激地接受了邻居的帮助，他在我最困难的时候伸出了援手。 Wǒ xīn huái gǎnjī de jiēshòu le línjū de bāngzhù, tā zài wǒ zuì kùnnán de shíhòu shēn chūle yuánshǒu. I gratefully accepted my neighbor's help; he extended a helping hand when I was in my most difficult moment.

父母为子女付出了一切，这份爱值得我们用一生去感激和回报。 Fùmǔ wèi zǐnǚ fùchūle yīqiè, zhè fèn ài zhídé wǒmen yòng yīshēng qù gǎnjī hé huíbào. Parents give everything for their children, and this love deserves a lifetime of gratitude and repayment.

感激是一种积极的情绪，研究表明，经常感激他人有助于提升幸福感。 Gǎnjī shì yī zhǒng jījí de qíngxù, yánjiū biǎomíng, jīngcháng gǎnjī tārén yǒuzhù yú tíshēng xìngfúgǎn. Gratitude is a positive emotion; research shows that frequently feeling grateful toward others helps increase one's sense of well-being.

志愿者们用实际行动传递了温暖，受助者对此充满感激。 Zhìyuànzhěmen yòng shíjì xíngdòng chuándìle wēnnuǎn, shòuzhùzhě duì cǐ chōngmǎn gǎnjī. The volunteers conveyed warmth through their actions, and those they helped were filled with gratitude.

Collocations

Usage Notes

感激 expresses a deeper, more heartfelt gratitude than 谢谢 (thank you) or 感谢 (to thank). While 感谢 is commonly used in formal settings as an acknowledgment (similar to "I thank you"), 感激 conveys an emotional depth suggesting that one has been genuinely moved by kindness.

The idiom 感激涕零 (literally: grateful to the point of tears falling) is a more literary expression of overwhelming gratitude. At B2 level, students should recognize the difference in register between the polite 感谢 and the emotionally deeper 感激.

Memory Hook

感 (to feel/be moved) + 激 (to stir up/excite) — 感激 is being so moved that your emotions are stirred up with gratitude.