🇬🇧🇨🇳 ungrateful - 忘恩负义 : English Lesson

Meaning of "ungrateful" ("忘恩负义"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

"Ungrateful" describes someone who does not show or feel gratitude or appreciation for something they have received or for someone's kindness. For example, if someone gives you a gift and you don't say thank you or show that you like it, you might be considered ungrateful.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

I made my dad a sandwich, but he was ungrateful because I forgot the bread.

I got my brother a toy car, but he was ungrateful and said, “Where’s the real one?”

The cat was ungrateful when I bought her a fancy bed—she still sleeps in the box.

My teacher was ungrateful when I handed in my homework late—I thought she’d be happy I did it at all!

My little brother was ungrateful when I gave him my last French fry—he wanted the whole box!

A small ungrateful boy drops his toy; an old woman offers a bright car toy. He grabs it, scowls, and walks off. The woman stands with a folded hand, hurt. Neighbors call him ungrateful; the mother whispers, "ungrateful, ungrateful." The boy turns, looks guilty, but shrugs — still ungrateful. The woman shakes her head, leaves.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.