เกา
gaoMeanings
1VerbA2
[to] scratch (an itch)
to rub or scrape the skin with the nails or an object, typically to relieve an itch
Examples
ฉันchănฉันchăn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)คันkanคันkan1itchy2[to] itch; feel itchy3classifier for vehicles4lever; handle5shaft; rod; pole6classifier for fishing rods; poles; handlesแขนkăaenแขนkăaen1arm (body part)2arm; extension (of object)3classifier: sleevesเลยloieเลยloie1at all; whatsoever (often in negatives)2so; thus; then (immediate result)3completely; absolutely (emphasis)4[to] pass; go beyond; exceedเกาgaoเกาgao1[to] scratch (an itch)2[to] pluck (a string instrument)เบาๆbao baoเบาๆbao bao1gently; softly; quietly; lightly; slightly; mildly2casually; in a relaxed way; not too seriously
My arm itches, so I scratch it gently.
3 more examplesShow less
He used the edge of a wall to scratch his back because he couldn’t reach.
2VerbB2
[to] pluck (a string instrument)
to play a string instrument, especially a guitar, by picking or plucking its strings
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillนั่งnângนั่งnâng1[to] sit; sit down2[to] take; ride [sth] (vehicle)เกาgaoเกาgao1[to] scratch (an itch)2[to] pluck (a string instrument)กีตาร์gii-dtâaกีตาร์gii-dtâaguitarเบาbaoเบาbao1light (not heavy)2soft; quiet (of sound)3gentle; mild; light (degree/force)4easy; light (workload/effort)5[to] urinate (polite euphemism)6[to] lighten; reduce; easeส่วนsùuanส่วนsùuan1part; portion; section2share; quota3department; division; unit4as for; regarding5over (in fractions)ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)ร้องเพลงrɔ́ɔng-pleengร้องเพลงrɔ́ɔng-pleeng[to] sing (a song)คลอklɔɔคลอklɔɔ1tearful; brimming with tears2[to] accompany softly (music)3[to] be close alongside; to go withไปด้วยbpai-dûuaiไปด้วยbpai-dûuai1too; as well; also2[to] go along; accompany [sb]3at the same time; concurrently
He gently fingerpicks the guitar while I sing along.
3 more examplesShow less
ฉันchǎnกำลังgam-langฝึกfʉ̀kเกาgaoกีตาร์gii-dtâaเพลงpleengนี้níiแต่ยังdtɛ̀ɛ-yangเล่นlênได้dâaiไม่คล่องmâi-klɔ̂ɔng
I'm practicing fingerpicking this song on the guitar, but I still can't play it smoothly.
แทนที่จะtɛɛn-tîi-jàตีคอร์ดdtii-kɔ́ɔtตลอดทั้งdtà-lɔ̀ɔt-tángเพลงpleengเขาkǎoเลือกlʉ̂ʉakเกาgaoกีตาร์gii-dtâaในnaiท่อนtɔ̂nแรกrɛ̂ɛkเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaให้เสียงhâi-sǐiangนุ่มนวลnûm-nuuanขึ้นkʉ̂n
Instead of strumming chords throughout the song, he chooses to fingerpick the opening section for a softer sound.
แม้mɛ́ɛจะjàเกาgaoกีตาร์gii-dtâaได้dâaiคล่องklɔ̂ɔngแล้วlɛ́ɛoแต่dtɛ̀ɛพอpɔɔต้องdtɔ̂ngร้องrɔ́ɔngไปด้วยbpai-dûuaiเธอtəəก็gɔ̂ยังyangเผลอplə̌əเล่นlênผิดจังหวะpìt-jang-wà
Although she can fingerpick the guitar smoothly, she still slips out of rhythm when she has to sing at the same time.
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 syllableThe vowel เ-า hides a final -ว, so it is live.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Mid tone
gao
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 | — | — |