หนู
nǔuMeanings
1NounA1
mouse; rat
A small rodent, including mice and rats.
Examples
ในnaiในnai1in; inside; within2during; in (time)3of; belonging to (formal)ครัวkruuaครัวkruua1kitchen2cuisine3household (archaic/lit.)มีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoหนูnǔuหนูnǔu1mouse; rat2I; me (polite, childlike/feminine in Thai)3you (addressing a child/younger person)ตัวเล็กdtuua-lékตัวเล็กdtuua-lék1small; small in build2lowercase (letters)วิ่งผ่านwîng-pàanวิ่งผ่านwîng-pàan[to] run past; [to] run through (a place)พื้นpʉ́ʉnพื้นpʉ́ʉn1floor2ground; base surface; bottom3basis; level; background (figurative)4background (color/pattern)
A small mouse ran across the kitchen floor.
3 more examplesShow less
The cat is chasing a mouse behind the house.
Last night I heard a mouse gnawing on the rice bag.
พรุ่งนี้prûng-níiเราraoจะjàวางwaangกับดักgàp-dàkเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaจับjàpหนูnǔuในnaiโรงเก็บของroong-gèp-kɔ̌ɔng
Tomorrow we will set traps to catch the mice in the storage shed.
2PronounA2
I; me (polite, childlike/feminine in Thai)
A polite or childlike first-person pronoun, commonly used by children and many women to refer to themselves when speaking Thai.
Examples
หนูnǔuหนูnǔu1mouse; rat2I; me (polite, childlike/feminine in Thai)3you (addressing a child/younger person)ชื่อchʉ̂ʉชื่อchʉ̂ʉ1name2[to] be named; be called3reputation; renownเมย์meeเมย์mee1May (month)2May (given name)ค่ะkâค่ะkâ1polite particle (female, statement)2polite particle (female, short response)
My name is May.
3 more examplesShow less
Yesterday I went to the market with my mom.
Tomorrow I will start learning the job at the new company.
หนูnǔuอยากyàakขอคำแนะนำkɔ̌ɔ-kam-nɛ́-namเรื่องrʉ̂ʉangการสมัครgaan-sà-màkทุนการศึกษาtun-gaan-sʉ̀k-sǎaค่ะkâเพราะprɔ́หนูnǔuยังyangไม่แน่ใจmâi-nɛ̂ɛ-jaiว่าwâaต้องdtɔ̂ngเตรียมdtriiamเอกสารèek-gà-sǎanอะไรà-raiบ้างbâang
I’d like to ask for advice about applying for a scholarship because I’m not sure what documents I need to prepare.
3PronounB1
you (addressing a child/younger person)
Used by adults to address a child or someone much younger in an affectionate or gentle way.
Examples
หนูnǔuหนูnǔu1mouse; rat2I; me (polite, childlike/feminine in Thai)3you (addressing a child/younger person)มาmaaมาmaa1[to] come; arrive2[to] come to (a state or situation)3past/as of now aspect markerกินข้าวgin-kâaoกินข้าวgin-kâao1[to] have a meal; eat (general)2[to] eat rice (literal)ก่อนนะgɔ̀ɔn-náก่อนนะgɔ̀ɔn-náfirst (polite); used on leaving ('I'll go first')เดี๋ยวค่อยdǐiao-kɔ̂iเดี๋ยวค่อยdǐiao-kɔ̂ilater; not yetไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already pastเล่นlênเล่นlên1[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.)ต่อdtɔ̀ɔต่อdtɔ̀ɔ1[to] continue; go on2per; each (rate/unit)3[to] connect; attach; join4[to] bargain; haggle5[to] renew; extend
Sweetie, come eat first, then you can go play later.
3 more examplesShow less
หนูnǔuทำการบ้านtam-gaan-bâanเสร็จsètหรือยังrʉ̌ʉ-yangถ้าtâaไม่mâiเข้าใจkâo-jaiให้hâiบอกbɔ̀ɔkครูkruuได้เลยdâai-ləəi
Dear, have you finished your homework? If you don’t understand, you can tell the teacher.
Kiddo, don’t cross the street by yourself; wait for me to take you.
หนูnŏoฟังfangคุณแม่kun mâeก่อนนะgòn náเรื่องrêuuangนี้néeต้องdtôngค่อยๆkôi kôiอธิบายà-tí-baaiแล้วláeoหนูnŏoจะjàเข้าใจkâo jaiเองayng
Honey, listen to mom first. This needs to be explained step by step, and you’ll understand.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh classLeading หA silent ห before น puts this syllable in high class.
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Rising tone
nǔu
Dips low first, then rises clearly.
High class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Rising
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 | — | — |