สี่ยาม
sìi-yaamMeaning
1NounC1
the four night watches
The traditional four divisions of the night (ยามหนึ่ง–ยามสี่), used in old timekeeping and literature, each covering a set period of nighttime.
Examples
บทกลอนbòt-glɔɔnบทกลอนbòt-glɔɔn1poem; verse (poetic composition)2stanza; verse (poem section)กล่าวถึงglàao-tʉ̌ngกล่าวถึงglàao-tʉ̌ng1[to] mention; refer to; allude to2[to] speak about; discuss; deal with (a topic)สี่ยามsìi-yaamสี่ยามsìi-yaamthe four night watchesของkɔ̌ɔngของkɔ̌ɔng1of; belonging to2thing; item; stuff3property; goodsค่ำคืนkâm-kʉʉnค่ำคืนkâm-kʉʉnnight; nighttimeตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛfrom; since (starting point)ยามyaamยามyaam1guard; watchman2time; period; at the time of (formal/lit.)3watch duty; guard shift4quarter of the night (traditional)หนึ่งnʉ̀ngหนึ่งnʉ̀ng1one (number)2a; one; a single3a certain; a particular4first; top; foremostถึงtʉ̌ngถึงtʉ̌ng1to; until; up to2[to] arrive; reach3to; toward (recipient/goal)4even if; even though5as much as; as many as; to the point of6only then; then as a result (informal)7about; concerning; regardingยามyaamยามyaam1guard; watchman2time; period; at the time of (formal/lit.)3watch duty; guard shift4quarter of the night (traditional)สี่sìiสี่sìi1four (number)2four (as a noun)
The poem mentions the four watches of the night, from the first to the fourth.
3 more examplesShow less
ในอดีตnai-à-dìitทหารยามtá-hǎan-yaamผลัดplàtเวรweenตามdtaamสี่ยามsìi-yaamเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaเฝ้าfâoเมืองmʉʉangตลอดคืนdtà-lɔ̀ɔt-kʉʉn
In the past, guards took shifts according to the four night watches to guard the city through the night.
วรรณคดีไทยwan-ná-ká-dii-taiมักmákใช้cháiอุปมาù-bpà-maaอิงingสี่ยามsìi-yaamเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaบรรยายban-yaaiความยาวนานkwaam-yaao-naanของkɔ̌ɔngค่ำคืนkâm-kʉʉnและlɛ́อารมณ์aa-romที่tîiเคลื่อนไหวklʉ̂ʉan-wǎiไปตามbpai-dtaamกาลgaan
Thai literature often uses the four night watches as a metaphor to depict the length of the night and emotions shifting over time.
เสียงsǐiangฆ้องkɔ́ɔngบอกbɔ̀ɔkสี่ยามsìi-yaamในnaiเมืองโบราณmʉʉang-boo-raanไม่เพียงmâi-piiangเป็นbpenการgaanบอกเวลาbɔ̀ɔk-wee-laaแต่ยังdtɛ̀ɛ-yangสะท้อนsà-tɔ́ɔnระเบียบrá-bìiapสังคมsǎng-komและlɛ́วิถีชีวิตwí-tǐi-chii-wítของkɔ̌ɔngผู้คนpûu-kon
The gong marking the four night watches in ancient cities not only told time but also reflected social order and people’s way of life.
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 classHigh class
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Low tone
sìi
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
High class + Mai ek → 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 | — | — |
Word Breakdown
+
ยามyaamยามyaam1guard; watchman2time; period; at the time of (formal/lit.)3watch duty; guard shift4quarter of the night (traditional)guard; watchmanPart 2
สี่ยามsìi-yaamสี่ยามsìi-yaamthe four night watchesthe four night watchesWord