People say they are “humbled” when they receive some honor. Is it because they don’t want others to know how proud (arrogant) they are to receive the honor? Is it because they really think they don’t deserve this honor? Is it because they never want to be rewarded in front of others? What message they are trying to convey? I think the word choice is a little weird.
On the flip side, if the person says “I am honored”, then he/she is stating the obvious. A friend of mine told me “I am humbled” is a little more intimate than “I am honored”. He also said by referring to your humility, you are expressing an emotion or an internal condition.
It is a graceful gesture of accepting the honor with humility, rather than displaying vanity. It is a quid pro quo reciprocation of respect to the honor itself, and the person / institution bestowing the honor. This is socially appreciated, and often expected.
Me being me, I looked in the dictionary for the meaning of this word.
Humbled as a verb means:
a) to lower in condition, importance
b) to destroy the independence, power, or will of.
c) to make meek
d) to be overly submissive or compliant
If I use the above meanings I can translate like this:
I am "lowered in condition" by this honor.
I am ""destroying the will of something" by this honor.
I am now compliant by this honor.
I am now submissive by this honor.
I am lost. What do you think?
On the flip side, if the person says “I am honored”, then he/she is stating the obvious. A friend of mine told me “I am humbled” is a little more intimate than “I am honored”. He also said by referring to your humility, you are expressing an emotion or an internal condition.
It is a graceful gesture of accepting the honor with humility, rather than displaying vanity. It is a quid pro quo reciprocation of respect to the honor itself, and the person / institution bestowing the honor. This is socially appreciated, and often expected.
Me being me, I looked in the dictionary for the meaning of this word.
Humbled as a verb means:
a) to lower in condition, importance
b) to destroy the independence, power, or will of.
c) to make meek
d) to be overly submissive or compliant
If I use the above meanings I can translate like this:
I am "lowered in condition" by this honor.
I am ""destroying the will of something" by this honor.
I am now compliant by this honor.
I am now submissive by this honor.
I am lost. What do you think?
hmm..i don't know..but i will definitely make sure i use the words properly from now on :)
ReplyDeleteI will think twice before using the word 'humbled', hereafter, SG!
ReplyDeleteVacation over? Photographs?!
That was a good post. So next time I get an award I will use correct words :)
ReplyDeleteThere are many words which we use even with out knowing the proper usage.
I think it also depends on the tone and the body language, it can turn the meaning of the word, one way or other. I have heard people use it with dignity. Some people also tend to goof up with the word. It all depends on your presentation.
ReplyDeleteHahaha
ReplyDeleteEnglish is funny. This is one proof. Now what happens if we take literal meaning of every word? One big laugh riot. :-P
But one thing is sure. 'Humbled' - people never really mean it when using this word. Are they really? I prefer 'honored'. By which, you show respect to you and the other party
Thanks for your comments Titaxy. No big deal. Use the word.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Sandhya. Vacantion is over. But problem with my uploading Picasa Album. Where is my technical adivsor Insignia? She is enjoying her own vacation.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Chitra. I pray you get many many awards and does not matter which word you use.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rama. You are right. It all depends on the presentation.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Insignia. You are right. English is funny. It is not our mother tongue (pronounced "tong u").
ReplyDeleteJust like you, I also prefer the word "honored". Or, be more humble and say "Hey I deserve this award whether you guys like it not".
:) thanks rajan and wish you and your family a beautiful diwali
ReplyDeletestrangely, I can never bring myself to say the word - humbled! I feel that if someone gives me an award, at least that person thinks I deserve it. then why will I be humbled? I am confident about myself. use of humbled makes it sound as if I doubt myself!
ReplyDeletethis is my personal opinion :)
Never won anything where I had to provide a speech. If I had, would have chosen honored. I am too vain to be humble.
ReplyDeleteI also thought of looking up the dictionary and was about to open it when i saw that u had already done that for me :)
ReplyDeleteI would never use humbled why should i be humbled and yes i would think the way you have written if someone uses it, so honored it is for me
and ya vacation pics plz
ReplyDeleteSG,
ReplyDeleteEnglish a great language. On the same time it is trick language too.
No two words have same meaning in English. Dictionary gives a meaning which is close but one has to really read a sentence to understand the meaning of the word.
When some one says 'I am humbled', it basically means 'I am accepting the honor with humility...'
I think you know all about it...
Thanks for your comments Sulagna. Happy Diwali to you and your husband.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Neha. I know you are a very confident person. I agree with you. If I don't deserve this why you should give me this award. So no need to be humble.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Geeta. You are right in choosing the word "honored". You will soon get a chance to use this word.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Shuchita. I am glad you liked this post. Honored is the right word.
ReplyDeleteHi Shuchita,
ReplyDeletePosts and pictures are coming soon. Problem with Picasa. My technical advisor (Insignia) is too busy.
Thanks for your comments A. I know humbled means "accepting the honor with humility". This is just a light post with tongue in cheeck remarks.
ReplyDeleteHmm...wierd but truthfully I have always said I am honoured and never humbled... ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Aparna. You are on the right track.
ReplyDeletehm..even i have this habit of cross checking with dictionary.if you see it that way ,iam afraid,it doesn't suit.."iam honored "suits well i think.
ReplyDelete