หมายตา
mǎai-dtaaMeanings
1VerbB2
[to] have one's eye on [sb]/[sth]
to single out someone or something for future attention, often with the intent to acquire, hire, or monitor them.
Examples
ผู้จัดการpûu-jàt-gaanผู้จัดการpûu-jàt-gaan1manager; administrator2personal manager; handlerหมายตาmǎai-dtaaหมายตาmǎai-dtaa1[to] have one's eye on [sb]/[sth]2[to] set one's sights on [sb] romanticallyพนักงานใหม่pá-nák-ngaan-màiพนักงานใหม่pá-nák-ngaan-màinew employee; new hireคนkonคนkon1person; human2classifier: people3[to] stir; mix by stirringนั้นnánนั้นnán1that (distal demonstrative)2that one; that thing3(topic-marking or emphatic particle)ไว้wáiไว้wái1[to] keep; save; store2[to] set aside; reserve3for later; in reserve4[to] leave (something) as is5marks retention or maintenance of a state6[to] wear; sport (hair/moustache/etc.)เพราะprɔ́เพราะprɔ́1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingเขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillทำงานtam-ngaanทำงานtam-ngaan1[to] work; do one's job; be on duty2[to] function; operateเก่งgèngเก่งgèng1skilled; good at2smart; quick-witted3[to] be good at; excelและlɛ́และlɛ́and (coordinating)ขยันkà-yǎnขยันkà-yǎnhardworking; diligentมากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerous
The manager has singled out that new employee because he is very competent and diligent.
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ตำรวจdtam-rùuatกำลังgam-langหมายตาmǎai-dtaaแก๊งgɛ́ngค้ายาเสพติดkáa-yaa-sèep-dtìtกลุ่มglùmนี้níiอยู่yùuแต่ยังdtɛ̀ɛ-yangรอจังหวะrɔɔ-jang-wàเข้าจับกุมkâo-jàp-gum
The police are currently monitoring this drug trafficking gang, but are waiting for the right moment to make an arrest.
บริษัทbɔɔ-rí-sàtคู่แข่งkûu-kɛ̀ngหมายตาmǎai-dtaaตัวdtuuaวิศวกรwít-sà-wá-gɔɔnคนkonเก่งgèngของเราkɔ̌ɔng-raoไว้wáiและlɛ́พยายามpá-yaa-yaamเสนอsà-nə̌əเงินเดือนngən-dʉʉanที่tîiสูงกว่าsǔung-gwàaเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaดึงdʉngตัวdtuuaไปbpai
The rival company has singled out our talented engineer and is trying to offer a higher salary to poach him.
นักลงทุนnák-long-tunรายใหญ่raai-yàiหมายตาmǎai-dtaaที่ดินtîi-dinผืนpʉ̌ʉnงามngaamริมแม่น้ำrim-mɛ̂ɛ-náamไว้wáiหลายlǎaiแปลงbplɛɛngโดยdooiมีmiiแผนpɛ̌ɛnจะjàสร้างsâangเป็นbpenรีสอร์ตrii-sɔ̀ɔtหรูrǔuในอนาคตnai-à-naa-kót
Major investors have singled out several beautiful plots of land along the river, with plans to build luxury resorts in the future.
2VerbB2
[to] set one's sights on [sb] romantically
to single someone out as a desired romantic partner.
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillแอบɛ̀ɛpแอบɛ̀ɛp1[to] do [sth] secretly; [to] conceal (one’s actions)2[to] hide; stay out of sight3secretly; on the slyหมายตาmǎai-dtaaหมายตาmǎai-dtaa1[to] have one's eye on [sb]/[sth]2[to] set one's sights on [sb] romanticallyเพื่อนร่วมห้องpʉ̂ʉan-rûuam-hɔ̂ngเพื่อนร่วมห้องpʉ̂ʉan-rûuam-hɔ̂ng1roommate2classmate (same classroom/homeroom)คนสวยkon-sǔuaiคนสวยkon-sǔuaia beautiful person; a beauty (esp. a woman)มาmaaมาmaa1[to] come; arrive2[to] come to (a state or situation)3past/as of now aspect markerนานแล้วnaan-lɛ́ɛoนานแล้วnaan-lɛ́ɛoa long time ago; for a long time nowแต่dtɛ̀ɛแต่dtɛ̀ɛ1but; however (contrast)2only; just (restriction)3from; since (starting point)ไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (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)คุยด้วยkui-dûuaiคุยด้วยkui-dûuai[to] talk with [sb]
He has secretly had his eye on his beautiful classmate for a long time but doesn't dare to approach her.
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มีmeeหนุ่มๆnùm-nùmหลายคนlăai konหมายตาmăai dtaaดาวdaaoคณะká-náคนใหม่kon màiแต่dtàeดูเหมือนdoo mĕuuanเธอterจะjàยังyangไม่สนใจmâi sŏn jaiใครkrai
Many young men have set their sights on the new faculty star, but it seems she isn't interested in anyone yet.
ตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛเห็นhěnเธอtəəในnaiงานเลี้ยงngaan-líiangเขาkǎoก็gɔ̂หมายตาmǎai-dtaaเธอtəəไว้wáiเป็นพิเศษbpen-pí-sèetและlɛ́พยายามpá-yaa-yaamหาโอกาสhǎa-oo-gàatทำความรู้จักtam-kwaam-rúu-jàkให้ได้hâi-dâai
Ever since seeing her at the party, he has specifically set his sights on her and has been trying to find an opportunity to get to know her.
ฉันchǎnว่าwâaเพื่อนสนิทpʉ̂ʉan-sà-nìtของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnก็gɔ̂หมายตาmǎai-dtaaคนkonที่tîiฉันchǎnชอบchɔ̂ɔpอยู่yùuเหมือนกันmʉ̌ʉan-ganงานngaanนี้níiคงkongต้องมีdtɔ̂ng-miiคนkonอกหักòk-hàkแน่นอนnɛ̂ɛ-nɔɔn
I think my best friend has also set his sights on the person I like; someone is definitely bound to get their heart broken in this situation.
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 classLeading หA silent ห before ม puts this syllable in high class.
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableEnds in -ย, a sonorant, so it is live.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Rising tone
mǎai
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 | — | — |
Word Breakdown
หมายmǎaiหมายmǎai1[to] intend; aim; mean (to do)2[to] designate; mark; note3official notice/writ; warrant4designated spot (e.g., fishing/hunting)[to] intend; aim; mean (to do)Part 1
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หมายตาmǎai-dtaaหมายตาmǎai-dtaa[to] have one's eye on [sb]/[sth][to] have one's eye on [sb]/[sth]Word