ดุ
dùMeanings
1AdjectiveA2
strict; stern; scolding
strict or stern in manner; often scolds or disciplines; harsh in tone
Examples
คุณครูkun-kruuคุณครูkun-kruu1teacher (polite/honorific)2Teacher (respectful title or address)ดุdùดุdù1strict; stern; scolding2fierce; aggressive; ferocious3[to] scold; rebukeมากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerousตอนdtɔɔnตอนdtɔɔn1section; part2episode; chapter3when; at the time (of)4time segment; periodเราraoเราrao1we; us2I; me (informal/regional)เสียงดังsǐiang-dangเสียงดังsǐiang-dang1loud; noisy (high volume)2a loud noise
The teacher is very stern when we are noisy.
3 more examplesShow less
Dad scolded me because I came home late and didn’t call.
The boss spoke harshly to the team because they didn’t meet the deadline.
เธอtəəมักพูดmák-pûutจาjaaเสียงsǐiangแข็งkɛ̌ngและlɛ́ดุdùเวลาwee-laaต้องdtɔ̂ngตักเตือนdtàk-dtʉʉanลูกน้องlûuk-nɔ́ɔngเรื่องrʉ̂ʉangระเบียบrá-bìiap
She often uses a firm, stern tone when disciplining subordinates about rules.
2AdjectiveA2
fierce; aggressive; ferocious
fierce or aggressive in behavior or appearance (e.g., an animal or a person); ferocious
Examples
หมาmǎaหมาmǎa1dog2dog (insult)ตัวนั้นdtuua-nánตัวนั้นdtuua-nánthat one [animal, item]หน้าตาnâa-dtaaหน้าตาnâa-dtaa1facial appearance; looks2appearance (of things)3face; reputationดุdùดุdù1strict; stern; scolding2fierce; aggressive; ferocious3[to] scold; rebukeมากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerousฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)เลยləəiเลยləəi1at all; whatsoever (often in negatives)2so; thus; then (immediate result)3completely; absolutely (emphasis)4[to] pass; go beyond; exceedไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)กล้าglâaกล้าglâa1brave; courageous2to dare3seedling; young plant4bravely; boldlyเข้าไปkâo-bpaiเข้าไปkâo-bpai1[to] go in; enter (away from the speaker)2directional complement: into; in (away from speaker)ใกล้glâiใกล้glâi1near; close (in distance/time/resemblance)2[to] be near; be close to
That dog looks very fierce, so I don’t dare go near.
3 more examplesShow less
The tiger in the cage stared with a fierce look, making onlookers step back.
นักมวยnák-muuaiคนkonนั้นnánขึ้นชกkʉ̂n-chókด้วยdûuaiท่าทีtâa-tiiดุdùใครkraiเห็นhěnก็gɔ̂รู้rúuว่าwâaหนักมือnàk-mʉʉ
That boxer entered the ring with a fierce demeanor; anyone could tell his punches were heavy.
ถึงtĕungหน้าตาnâa dtaaเขาkăoจะjàดูdooดุdùแต่จริงๆdtàe jing jingแล้วláeoใจเย็นjai yenและláeไม่mâiทำร้ายtam ráaiใครkrai
Although he looks fierce, he is actually calm and doesn’t hurt anyone.
3Verb
[to] scold; rebuke
to speak sternly to [sb] to express disapproval of their behavior
Examples
แม่ดุmɛ̂ɛ-dùแม่ดุmɛ̂ɛ-dùa strict motherฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)เพราะprɔ́เพราะprɔ́1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)ไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)ยอมyɔɔmยอมyɔɔm1[to] agree; consent2[to] allow; permit3[to] yield; give in; submit4[to] admit (acknowledge)เก็บของgèp-kɔ̌ɔngเก็บของgèp-kɔ̌ɔng1[to] put things away; tidy up2[to] pack up; gather one’s things3[to] store/keep belongingsเล่นlênเล่นlên1[to] play; have fun2[to] play (game/sport/instrument)3[to] act; perform (role)4casually; for fun (manner marker)5[to] tease; kid; mess with6[to] use; engage in; take up (colloq.)
My mother scolded me because I refused to put away my toys.
3 more examplesShow less
ครูkruuดุdùนักเรียนnák-riianที่tîiคุยกันkui-ganเสียงดังsǐiang-dangแล้วlɛ́ɛoให้hâiทุกคนtúk-konกลับไปglàp-bpaiนั่งnângที่tîi
The teacher scolded the students who were talking loudly, then told everyone to return to their seats.
พ่อpɔ̂ɔดุdùน้องnɔ́ɔngที่tîiวิ่งwîngลงไปlong-bpaiบนbonถนนtà-nǒnเพราะprɔ́กลัวว่าgluua-wâaน้องnɔ́ɔngจะjàถูกtùukรถชนrót-chon
Dad scolded my younger sibling for running into the street because he was afraid they would get hit by a car.
แม้mɛ́ɛลูกlûukจะjàทำผิดtam-pìtซ้ำอีกsám-ìikเธอtəəก็gɔ̂เลือกlʉ̂ʉakที่จะtîi-jàคุยด้วยkui-dûuaiเหตุผลhèet-pǒnแทนtɛɛnการgaanดุdùเขาkǎoต่อหน้าdtɔ̀ɔ-nâaคนอื่นkon-ʉ̀ʉn
Although her son had made the same mistake again, she chose to reason with him rather than scold him in front of others.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingDead syllableA short vowel with no final consonant, so it is dead.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Low tone
dù
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
Mid class + No tone mark + Dead syllable → Low
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 | — | — |