ดีกว่า
dii-gwàaMeanings
1AdjectiveA2
better; preferable (comparative of 'ดีดีdii1good; of good quality2kind; virtuous3well; nicely4gall; bile')
better than something else; more suitable or preferable in comparison
Examples
รถยนต์rót-yonรถยนต์rót-yon1car; automobile2motor vehicle (general)คันkanคันkan1itchy2[to] itch; feel itchy3classifier for vehicles4lever; handle5shaft; rod; pole6classifier for fishing rods; poles; handlesนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)ดีกว่าdii-gwàaดีกว่าdii-gwàa1better; preferable (comparative of 'ดี')2had better; would rather (suggestion/decision)คันkanคันkan1itchy2[to] itch; feel itchy3classifier for vehicles4lever; handle5shaft; rod; pole6classifier for fishing rods; poles; handlesนั้นnánนั้นnán1that (distal demonstrative)2that one; that thing3(topic-marking or emphatic particle)
This car is better than that one.
3 more examplesShow less
I think the weather today is better than yesterday.
His health is much better now than it was before.
การมีgaan-miiเพื่อนpʉ̂ʉanน้อยnɔ́ɔiแต่dtɛ̀ɛจริงใจjing-jaiย่อมyɔ̂mดีกว่าdii-gwàaการมีgaan-miiเพื่อนpʉ̂ʉanเยอะyə́แต่dtɛ̀ɛไม่จริงใจmâi-jing-jai
Having a few sincere friends is better than having many insincere ones.
2ParticleB1
had better; would rather (suggestion/decision)
sentence‑final particle used to express preference, advice, or a soft decision (e.g., “let’s/rather …,” “you’d better …”)
Examples
หิวhǐuหิวhǐu1hungry2[to] be hungry; feel hungryแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)เราraoเราrao1we; us2I; me (informal/regional)ไปหาbpai-hǎaไปหาbpai-hǎa1[to] go see [sb]; [to] visit [sb]2[to] go look for [sb/sth]; [to] seek [sth]อะไรà-raiอะไรà-rai1what2what; what kind of (modifier)3something; anything (unspecified)4what? (interjection of surprise/confusion)กินกันgin-ganกินกันgin-gan1[to] eat together2[to] match; harmonize; go together3[to] sleep together; [to] have sex (slang)ดีกว่าdii-gwàaดีกว่าdii-gwàa1better; preferable (comparative of 'ดี')2had better; would rather (suggestion/decision)
I'm hungry. Let's go find something to eat.
3 more examplesShow less
I have an exam tomorrow morning. I'd better go to bed early tonight.
ดูท่าทางduu-tâa-taangเขาkǎoอารมณ์ไม่ดีaa-rom-mâi-diiอย่าเพิ่งyàa-pə̂ngเข้าไปkâo-bpaiคุยkuiตอนนี้dtɔɔn-níiดีกว่าdii-gwàa
He seems to be in a bad mood. It's probably better not to go talk to him right now.
ถ้าtâaให้เลือกhâi-lʉ̂ʉakระหว่างrá-wàangการทำงานgaan-tam-ngaanที่tîiน่าเบื่อnâa-bʉ̀ʉaแต่dtɛ̀ɛเงินngənดีdiiกับgàpสิ่งที่sìng-tîiรักrákแต่dtɛ̀ɛรายได้raai-dâaiไม่แน่นอนmâi-nɛ̂ɛ-nɔɔnผมpǒmเลือกทำlʉ̂ʉak-tamสิ่งที่sìng-tîiรักrákดีกว่าdii-gwàa
If I had to choose between a boring but well-paid job and something I love with an uncertain income, I'd rather do what I love.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Mid tone
dii
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Mid class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |
Word Breakdown
+
ดีกว่าdii-gwàaดีกว่าdii-gwàabetter; preferable (comparative of 'ดี')better; preferable (comparative of 'ดี')Word