it's the thought that counts

proverb

When giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness behind the act is more important than any other consideration.

“I know the gift he gave you for your wedding is not worth much, but I hope you'll understand it's the thought that counts.”

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Meanings

proverb
  1. When giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness behind the act is more important than any other consideration.

    I know the gift he gave you for your wedding is not worth much, but I hope you'll understand it's the thought that counts.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 禮輕情意重 /礼轻情意重, 有這份心思才是最重要的 /有这份心思才是最重要的
  • 禮輕情意重 /礼轻情意重 (lǐ qīng qíngyì zhòng)when giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
  • 有這份心思才是最重要的 /有这份心思才是最重要的 (yǒu zhè fèn xīnsī cái shì zuì zhòngyào de)when giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
  • 心意到了就行了 (xīnyì dào le jiù xíng le)when giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
Finnish ajatus on tärkein
  • ajatus on tärkeinwhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
French c'est l'intention qui compte, c'est le geste qui compte
  • c'est l'intention qui comptewhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
  • c'est le geste qui comptewhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
German Auf die Absicht kommt es an
  • Auf die Absicht kommt es anwhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
Hungarian a szándék a fontos
  • a szándék a fontoswhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
Māori mā hea mai i/ki tēnā
  • mā hea mai i/ki tēnāwhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
Norwegian det er tanken som teller
  • det er tanken som tellerwhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
Polish liczy się gest
  • liczy się gestwhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
Portuguese o que conta é a intenção
  • o que conta é a intençãowhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
Romanian gestul contează
  • gestul conteazăwhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
Russian не до́рог пода́рок, дорога́ забо́та
  • не до́рог пода́рок, дорога́ забо́та (ne dórog podárok, dorogá zabóta)when giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
Spanish la intención es lo que cuenta
  • la intención es lo que cuentawhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
Swedish det är tanken som räknas
  • det är tanken som räknaswhen giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness is more important than any other consideration
Cite this entry
APA

it's the thought that counts. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it's%20the%20thought%20that%20counts

MLA

“it's the thought that counts.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it's%20the%20thought%20that%20counts. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “it's the thought that counts,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it's%20the%20thought%20that%20counts.

Source: it's the thought that counts on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.