<p>You are right that <strong>感恩</strong> is a verb-noun phrase. When another noun is appended (i.e. <strong>感恩XX</strong>), it means that you are thanking (<strong>感</strong>) someone (<strong>XX</strong>) for their kindness (<strong>恩</strong>). Inversion is at play here. <br/><br/><strong>"感恩"</strong> carries a degree of formality and is rarely used in daily conversation. It will be awkward if someone uses <strong>"感恩"</strong> when not speaking publicly.<br/><br/>To rate them in terms of formalities: <strong>感恩</strong> > <strong>感谢</strong> > <strong>谢谢</strong> > <strong>多谢</strong><br/><br/><strong>感恩</strong> is used exclusively in formal context while <strong>多谢</strong> is only used casually. <strong>感谢</strong> and <strong>谢谢</strong> can be used at the user's discretion, though the former sounds more formal.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-22T22:41:13.017Z
Is such usage more common in Taiwan than in mainland China? For example, I had the impression that a Taiwanese would say something like "我帮忙他完成了一件事" whereas someone from the Mainland would say "我帮他完成了一件事". Here "帮忙" is a similar verb-noun phrase (to me) but used as a verb.
Herr K.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-22T22:49:16.753Z
@HerrK.I edited my answer to address your first question regarding 感恩. I am not familiar with its usage in Taiwan. In mainland China, 帮忙 is either used by itself (as an intransitive verb: 他来帮忙) or with the task you're to help with (他来帮忙搬家 - "搬家" is the task here).
Cosmos Gu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-23T14:04:32.067Z
I think "感恩XX" sounds like the style of Chinese in Taiwan.
velut luna
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-23T18:04:24.217Z
I heart it from HK and TW people who are religious. I interpret as a short and sweet way to say "I feel grateful".
judester
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-23T19:49:00.117Z
@Mathaholic Do you think people in Taiwan will use 感恩 in less formal settings? If that is the case I will edit my answer to reflect that.
Cosmos Gu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-23T19:49:23.790Z
@judester I think it is common for people to use words that will otherwise be considered too formal when they are talking about religion.
Cosmos Gu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-23T20:08:36.173Z
@CosmosGu yes you're right, however, they will use the term in discussions not related to religion, and in place of just saying a standard thank you.
judester
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-23T22:00:06.960Z
@judester I see. Maybe constantly using this word in religious context "desensitized" it for them? :)
Cosmos Gu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-24T00:33:59.187Z
@CosmosGu I don't think so...I think religious people are more likely to express their sense of gratefulness. For a lack of better word.
judester
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-24T00:54:00.930Z
@judester I get you. I had a similar experience with some of my religious friends.
Cosmos Gu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-22T21:28:44.857Z
2016-04-23T06:01:22.803Z
2016-04-23T06:01:22.803Z
Cosmos Gu
<p>Often we say "感谢" in the oral conversation, but "感恩" is also used in oral, the meaning is more deep. I will give a example:</p>

<p>生活中，我们要学会感恩。</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-30T03:30:59.990Z
But in your example "感恩" is not a verb; it's a verb-noun phrase.
Herr K.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-29T23:33:18.417Z
2016-04-29T23:33:18.417Z
user13327
<p>In the last two years or so I began to see people frequently using 感恩 as verb meaning "thank (you)", such as "感恩大家" or "感恩领导". </p>

<p>But I thought "感恩" is a verb-noun phrase, meaning "thank (you for your) kindness", while "感谢" is the phrase for "thank (you)". </p>

<p>Is the use of "感恩" instead of "感谢" a newly emerged usage, or have the two always been interchangeable?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-23T15:40:52.380Z
Because these people are either movie star or working for the nation, they are too busy , don't  have enough time to learn.
sfy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-24T15:17:34.613Z
This is how we say thank you in Vietnamese (cám ơn) or cảm ân when pronounced in Sino-Vietnamese.
oceanus
<meaning><mandarin><vocabulary><difference>
Why is "感恩" frequently used as a verb?
# Why is "感恩" frequently used as a verb?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-22)

In the last two years or so I began to see people frequently using 感恩 as verb meaning "thank (you)", such as "感恩大家" or "感恩领导".

But I thought "感恩" is a verb-noun phrase, meaning "thank (you for your) kindness", while "感谢" is the phrase for "thank (you)".

Is the use of "感恩" instead of "感谢" a newly emerged usage, or have the two always been interchangeable?

**Tags:** meaning, mandarin, vocabulary, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Because these people are either movie star or working for the nation, they are too busy , don't  have enough time to learn.  
> **username_2**: This is how we say thank you in Vietnamese (cám ơn) or cảm ân when pronounced in Sino-Vietnamese.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-04-22. Score: 4

You are right that **感恩** is a verb-noun phrase. When another noun is appended (i.e. **感恩XX**), it means that you are thanking (**感**) someone (**XX**) for their kindness (**恩**). Inversion is at play here.   
  
**"感恩"** carries a degree of formality and is rarely used in daily conversation. It will be awkward if someone uses **"感恩"** when not speaking publicly.  
  
To rate them in terms of formalities: **感恩** > **感谢** > **谢谢** > **多谢**  
  
**感恩** is used exclusively in formal context while **多谢** is only used casually. **感谢** and **谢谢** can be used at the user's discretion, though the former sounds more formal.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is such usage more common in Taiwan than in mainland China? For example, I had the impression that a Taiwanese would say something like "我帮忙他完成了一件事" whereas someone from the Mainland would say "我帮他完成了一件事". Here "帮忙" is a similar verb-noun phrase (to me) but used as a verb.  
> **username_3**: @username_0I edited my answer to address your first question regarding 感恩. I am not familiar with its usage in Taiwan. In mainland China, 帮忙 is either used by itself (as an intransitive verb: 他来帮忙) or with the task you're to help with (他来帮忙搬家 - "搬家" is the task here).  
> **username_4**: I think "感恩XX" sounds like the style of Chinese in Taiwan.  
> **username_5**: I heart it from HK and TW people who are religious. I interpret as a short and sweet way to say "I feel grateful".  
> **username_3**: @Mathaholic Do you think people in Taiwan will use 感恩 in less formal settings? If that is the case I will edit my answer to reflect that.  
> **username_3**: @username_5 I think it is common for people to use words that will otherwise be considered too formal when they are talking about religion.  
> **username_5**: @username_3 yes you're right, however, they will use the term in discussions not related to religion, and in place of just saying a standard thank you.  
> **username_3**: @username_5 I see. Maybe constantly using this word in religious context "desensitized" it for them? :)  
> **username_5**: @username_3 I don't think so...I think religious people are more likely to express their sense of gratefulness. For a lack of better word.  
> **username_3**: @username_5 I get you. I had a similar experience with some of my religious friends.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2016-04-29. Score: 0

Often we say "感谢" in the oral conversation, but "感恩" is also used in oral, the meaning is more deep. I will give a example:

生活中，我们要学会感恩。

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: But in your example "感恩" is not a verb; it's a verb-noun phrase.  

---

