บน
bonMeanings
1PrepositionA1
on; upon; in; above
indicating a position on a surface or in a higher place or space, not necessarily with contact, as in บนโต๊ะ (on the table) or บนท้องฟ้า (in the sky)
Examples
แก้วgɛ̂ɛoแก้วgɛ̂ɛo1drinking glass2glass (material)3classifier: glasses of drink4crystal; precious gemอยู่yùuอยู่yùu1[to] live; reside; stay2to be (located); be at3progressive/continuative marker4to exist; remainบนbonบนbon1on; upon; in; above2upper; top3[to] vow (at a shrine)โต๊ะdtóโต๊ะdtó1table2desk
The glass is on the table.
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The book is placed on the shelf.
Write your name on this paper.
2AdjectiveA2
upper; top
indicating the upper part or top section of something (used attributively, e.g., ชั้นบนชั้นบนchán-bonupper floor; upstairs = upper floor)
Examples
ห้องพักhɔ̂ng-pákห้องพักhɔ̂ng-pák1room (for staying/sleeping)2break room; loungeชั้นบนchán-bonชั้นบนchán-bonupper floor; upstairsเงียบngîiapเงียบngîiap1quiet; silent2quiet (place/time)3[to] be quiet; fall silent4[to] go silent; stop respondingมากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerous
The upper-floor room is very quiet.
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The upper shelf has many old books.
ทางเดินtaang-dəənด้านบนdâan-bonของkɔ̌ɔngสะพานsà-paanวิวwiuสวยsǔuaiกว่าgwàaเพราะprɔ́มองเห็นmɔɔng-hěnแม่น้ำmɛ̂ɛ-náamได้dâaiชัดchát
The walkway on top of the bridge has a better view because you can see the river clearly.
3VerbB2
[to] vow (at a shrine)
to make a vow or pledge to a deity at a shrine, often promising an offering if a wish is granted (e.g., บนบานศาลกล่าวบนบานศาลกล่าวbon-baan-sǎan-glàao[to] make a vow to a spirit for a favor)
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already pastไหว้พระwâai-práไหว้พระwâai-prá[to] pay respects to the Buddha; worship at a templeแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)บนbonบนbon1on; upon; in; above2upper; top3[to] vow (at a shrine)ว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticizeถ้าtâaถ้าtâaif; in caseได้dâaiได้dâai1okay; sure; agreed2[to] get; obtain; receive3can; [to] be able to; may4[to] manage to; succeed in5actualized-action markerงานngaanงานngaan1work; job; employment2task; assignment; duty3event; fair; function4work (product); creation5unit (classifier) for events6work (physics)ใหม่màiใหม่mài1new; not old2new; different; fresh3again; anew4new; inexperienced (novice)จะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3will; would (in conditional results)ถวายtà-wǎaiถวายtà-wǎai1to offer (to royalty/monastics)2[to] dedicate/offer merit (to royalty/monastics)3to serve (royalty/monastics)ละครlá-kɔɔnละครlá-kɔɔn1drama; play; theater show2theater; dramatic artsหุ่นhùnหุ่นhùn1doll; mannequin; puppet2figure; physique3robot; automaton; android (colloq.)ให้hâiให้hâi1[to] give; provide2[to] allow; let; permit3[to] have [sb] do; cause to4for (benefit of)5so that; in order to6until; to the point that (result)เจ้าพ่อjâao-pɔ̂ɔเจ้าพ่อjâao-pɔ̂ɔ1godfather; mafia boss2leading figure; kingpin3guardian spirit; tutelary deity
He went to pray and vowed that if he got a new job, he would offer a puppet show to the spirit.
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แม่mɛ̂ɛบนบานศาลกล่าวbon-baan-sǎan-glàaoกับgàpศาลเจ้าsǎan-jâaoว่าwâaถ้าtâaลูกlûukสอบติดsɔ̀ɔp-dtìtจะjàนำnamไข่ต้มkài-dtômไปbpaiแก้บนgɛ̂ɛ-bon
Mom made a vow at the shrine that if her child passed the exam, she would bring boiled eggs to fulfill the vow.
เขาkǎoบนbonกับgàpศาลพระภูมิsǎan-prá-puumเรื่องrʉ̂ʉangให้hâiหายป่วยhǎai-bpùuaiพร้อมprɔ́ɔmสัญญาsǎn-yaaว่าwâaจะjàวิ่งwîngแก้บนgɛ̂ɛ-bonหนึ่งnʉ̀ngรอบrɔ̂ɔpสวนลุมsǔuan-lum
He made a vow at the spirit house to recover from illness, promising to run one lap at Lumphini Park to fulfill it.
ชาวบ้านchaao-bâanนิยมní-yomบนbonขอฝนkɔ̌ɔ-fǒnกับgàpเจ้าที่jâao-tîiและlɛ́จะjàจัดjàtรำramแก้บนgɛ̂ɛ-bonเมื่อmʉ̂ʉaฝนตกfǒn-dtòkตามคำขอdtaam-kam-kɔ̌ɔ
Villagers often vow for rain to the local spirits and will perform a dance to fulfill the vow when the rain comes as requested.
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 endingLive syllableEnds in -น, a sonorant, so it is live.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Mid tone
bon
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 | — | — |