หู
hǔuMeanings
1NounA1
ear
The body part on the side of the head used for hearing.
Examples
เด็กdèkเด็กdèk1child; kid2young person (informal)จับหูjàp-hǔuจับหูjàp-hǔu1[to] grab someone’s ear2[to] grasp by the handle; hold by the ear (of an object)ของตัวเองkɔ̌ɔng-dtuua-eengของตัวเองkɔ̌ɔng-dtuua-eengone's ownแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)หัวเราะhǔua-rɔ́หัวเราะhǔua-rɔ́1[to] laugh2[to] laugh at; ridicule
The child grabbed his own ear and laughed.
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Yesterday I had an earache because water got in my ear while showering.
The doctor told me to gently clean my ear after swimming.
2NounB1
hearing; ability to hear
A person’s sense or ability to hear sounds; hearing.
Examples
เมื่อคืนmʉ̂ʉa-kʉʉnเมื่อคืนmʉ̂ʉa-kʉʉn1last night (the night before today)2last nightผมpǒmผมpǒm1I; me (male speaker, polite)2hair (on the head)ได้ยินdâi-yinได้ยินdâi-yin1[to] hear2[to] hear of; be told; learn (by hearing)เสียงsǐiangเสียงsǐiang1sound; noise2voice3vote4tone; timbre5phonetic toneไม่ชัดmâi-chátไม่ชัดmâi-chát1unclear; indistinct2unclearly; indistinctlyเหมือนmʉ̌ʉanเหมือนmʉ̌ʉan1similar; alike2like; as3as if; as thoughหูhǔuหูhǔu1ear2hearing; ability to hear3handle; lug; loop (ear-like part)จะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3will; would (in conditional results)ไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂iไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂i1rarely; seldom; not often2not very; hardly (degree)ดีdiiดีdii1good; of good quality2kind; virtuous3well; nicely4gall; bile
Last night I had an earache, so my hearing wasn’t clear.
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คุณยายkun-yaaiหูhǔuตึงdtʉngนิดหน่อยnít-nɔ̀iจึงjʉngต้องdtɔ̂ngเปิดbpə̀ətทีวีtii-wiiเสียงดังsǐiang-dangขึ้นkʉ̂n
Grandma is a bit hard of hearing, so she has to turn up the TV volume.
ผมpǒmไม่มีmâi-miiหูhǔuสำหรับsǎm-ràpดนตรีคลาสสิกdon-dtrii-klâat-sìkเท่าไรtâo-raiฟังfangแล้วlɛ́ɛoแยกyɛ̂ɛkเครื่องดนตรีkrʉ̂ʉang-don-dtriiไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂iออกɔ̀ɔk
I don’t have much of an ear for classical music; when I listen, I can hardly distinguish the instruments.
แม้máeในnaiห้องhôngจะjàจอแจjor jaeแต่dtàeเธอterก็gâwมีmeeหูhŏoที่têeไวต่อwai dtòrสำเนียงsàm-niangสามารถsăa-mâatจับjàpคำพูดkam pôotเบาๆbao baoได้dâiทันทีtan tee
Even though the room was noisy, she has a sharp ear for accents and can catch soft words immediately.
3NounB1
handle; lug; loop (ear-like part)
An ear-like handle, lug, or loop on an object, such as on a pot, cup, or bag.
Examples
แก้วgɛ̂ɛoแก้วgɛ̂ɛo1drinking glass2glass (material)3classifier: glasses of drink4crystal; precious gemใบbaiใบbai1leaf2sheet; slip; card; ticket; bill; receipt3classifier for leaves, paper items, containers, and certain other objects4license; permit; certificate5bladeนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)มีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoหูhǔuหูhǔu1ear2hearing; ability to hear3handle; lug; loop (ear-like part)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)จับjàpจับjàp1[to] hold; grasp2[to] touch; feel3[to] catch; seize; capture4[to] arrest5[to] detect; pick up; sense6[to] attack; come on (of fever)สะดวกsà-dùuakสะดวกsà-dùuak1convenient2available; free (time)เวลาwee-laaเวลาwee-laa1time2time; period; occasion3when; at the time (that)4classifier: scheduled occasions; meals; dosesถือtʉ̌ʉถือtʉ̌ʉ1[to] hold; carry (by hand)2[to] regard; consider; deem3[to] observe; keep (rules, precepts, fast)4[to] be strict/particular aboutชาchaaชาchaa1tea2numb; without sensation3[to] go numb; become numb
This cup has a handle to hold, which is convenient when carrying tea.
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เขาkǎoหิ้วhîuถุงผ้าtǔng-pâaโดยdooiสอดsɔ̀ɔtมือmʉʉผ่านpàanหูhǔuถุงtǔngจะได้jà-dâaiไม่mâiเจ็บนิ้วjèp-níu
He carried the cloth bag by sliding his hand through the bag’s loop so his fingers wouldn’t hurt.
กระเป๋าเดินทางgrà-bpǎo-dəən-taangรุ่นrûnนี้níiเสริมsə̌əmหูhǔuจับjàpสองsɔ̌ɔngข้างkâangทำให้tam-hâiยกขึ้นyók-kʉ̂nรถrótได้dâaiง่ายกว่าngâai-gwàaเดิมdəəm
This suitcase model has reinforced handles on both sides, making it easier to lift into the car.
หม้อดินเผาmɔ̂ɔ-din-pǎoมักmákทำtamหูhǔuไว้wáiสองsɔ̌ɔngข้างkâangเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaช่วยchûuaiพยุงpá-yungน้ำหนักnám-nàkตอนdtɔɔnยกyókลงlongจากjàakเตาdtao
Earthen pots usually have two lugs on the sides to support the weight when lifting them off the stove.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh 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
hǔu
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 | — | — |