ครู

kruu

Meanings

1NounA1

teacher

a person whose job is to teach, especially in a school

Examples

ครูสอนkruu sŏnนักเรียนnák riianนักเรียนnák riianschool student; pupilในnaiในnai1in; inside; within2during; in (time)3of; belonging to (formal)ห้องhôngห้องhông1room2classifier: roomsทุกวันtúk wanทุกวันtúk wan1every day; daily2daily; occurring every day
The teacher teaches the students in the classroom every day.
3 more examples
พ่อpɔ̂ɔของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnเป็นbpenครูkruuที่tîiโรงเรียนประถมroong-riian-bprà-tǒm
My father is a teacher at an elementary school.
เมื่อวานmʉ̂ʉa-waanครูkruuตรวจการdtrùuat-gaanบ้านbâanของเราkɔ̌ɔng-rao
Yesterday the teacher checked our homework.
พรุ่งนี้prûng-néeครูkruuจะพาjà paaเด็กๆdèk dèkไปbpaiห้องสมุดhông sà-mùt
Tomorrow the teacher will take the children to the library.
2NounB1

master; mentor (respectful)

a respected teacher or instructor in any field (e.g., music, crafts, martial arts); also used as a respectful form of address

Examples

ผมpǒmผมpǒm1I; me (male speaker, polite)2hair (on the head)เคารพkao-rópเคารพkao-róp1[to] respect; honor2[to] obey; abide by3[to] pay respectsครูดนตรีkruu-don-dtriiครูดนตรีkruu-don-dtriimusic teacherมากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerousเพราะprɔ́เพราะprɔ́1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingครูkruuครูkruu1teacher2master; mentor (respectful)3classifier: คน; ท่าน (respectful)ท่านtânท่านtân1you (formal/polite)2he; she (honorific)3sir; madam4honorific title5classifier (polite for persons)สอนsɔ̌ɔnสอนsɔ̌ɔn1[to] teach [sb] [sth]2[to] instruct; train [sb]3[to] admonish; give moral guidanceผมpǒmผมpǒm1I; me (male speaker, polite)2hair (on the head)ตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛfrom; since (starting point)พื้นฐานpʉ́ʉn-tǎanพื้นฐานpʉ́ʉn-tǎan1basic; fundamental2foundation; basis3background (knowledge/education)
I respect my music teacher very much because they taught me from the basics.
3 more examples
ครูมวยkruu-muuaiที่tîiค่ายkâaiนี้níiเข้มงวดkêm-ngûuatแต่dtɛ̀ɛใจดีjai-diiลูกศิษย์lûuk-sìtทุกคนtúk-konเชื่อฟังchʉ̂ʉa-fang
The boxing master at this camp is strict but kind; all students listen to him.
เวลาwee-laaเจอjəəครูkruuช่างฝีมือchâng-fǐi-mʉʉในnaiการฝึกgaan-fʉ̀kเราraoควรkuuanไหว้wâiและlɛ́เรียกrîiakท่านtânว่าwâaครูkruuเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaให้เกียรติhâi-gìiat
When meeting a master craftsperson during training, we should wai and address them as ‘kru’ to show respect.
ผมpǒmไปbpaiฝากตัวfàak-dtuuaเป็นbpenศิษย์sìtกับgàpครูkruuดนตรีไทยdon-dtrii-taiเพราะprɔ́ท่านtânมีชื่อเสียงmii-chʉ̂ʉ-sǐiangด้านdâanการถ่ายทอดgaan-tàai-tɔ̂ɔtวิชาwí-chaaและlɛ́จรรยาบรรณjan-yaa-ban
I went to formally become a student of a Thai music master because they are renowned for imparting knowledge and ethics.
3ClassifierB1

classifier: คนคนkon1person; human2classifier: people; ท่านท่านtân1you (formal/polite)2he; she (honorific)3sir; madam4honorific title5classifier (polite for persons) (respectful)

Teachers are counted with คนคนkon1person; human2classifier: people in ordinary use and ท่านท่านtân1you (formal/polite)2he; she (honorific)3sir; madam4honorific title5classifier (polite for persons) in respectful or formal use.

Tones

See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.

How the tone is decided

  1. Consonant classLow classConsonant clusterIn the cluster คร, the first consonant ค sets the class.
  2. Tone markNo tone mark
  3. Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.

Low class consonants

คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ

Result

Mid tone

kruu

Level, in your normal speaking voice.

Low class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid

Tone chart

Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.

Mid classHigh classLow class
No mark + liveMidRisingMid
No mark + dead shortLowLowHigh
No mark + dead longLowLowFalling
Mai ekLowLowFalling
Mai thoFallingFallingHigh
Mai triHigh——
Mai chattawaRising——

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