เข้า
kâoMeanings
1VerbA2
[to] enter; go in
to move into or inside a place, area, or group
Examples
กรุณาgà-rú-naaกรุณาgà-rú-naa1please (polite/formal request)2kindness; benevolence3kind; benevolentถอดtɔ̀ɔtถอดtɔ̀ɔt1[to] take off; remove (worn/attached items)2[to] disassemble; take apart3[to] extract; pull out4[to] translate; render; transliterate5[to] decode; decipherรองเท้าrɔɔng-táaoรองเท้าrɔɔng-táaoshoe; footwearก่อนgɔ̀ɔnก่อนgɔ̀ɔn1before; earlier; previously; first2previous; prior; formerเข้าบ้านkâo-bâanเข้าบ้านkâo-bâan[to] enter the house; [to] come into the house
Please take off your shoes before entering the house.
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Yesterday I went into the library after work.
พรุ่งนี้prûng-níiเราraoจะjàเข้าป่าkâo-bpàaแต่เช้าdtɛ̀ɛ-cháaoอย่าลืมyàa-lʉʉmเตรียมdtriiamน้ำnáamไปด้วยbpai-dûuai
Tomorrow we will enter the forest early in the morning; don't forget to bring water.
เขาkǎoรีบเข้าrîip-kâoอาคารสำนักงานaa-kaan-sǎm-nák-ngaanทันทีที่tan-tii-tîiฝนfǒnเริ่มrə̂əmตกหนักdtòk-nàk
He hurried into the office building as soon as the rain started pouring.
2VerbA2
[to] put in; insert
to place something inside something else; to insert
Examples
ใส่sàiใส่sài1[to] put in; [to] add2[to] wear; [to] put on3[to] include; [to] insert (data, settings)4[to] attack; [to] go at (colloq.)กุญแจgun-jɛɛกุญแจgun-jɛɛ1key (for a lock)2key; crucial factor3answer key; key (solutions)4clef (music)เข้าไปในkâo-bpai-naiเข้าไปในkâo-bpai-nai[to] go into [sth]; [to] enter [sth]ช่องchɔ̂ngช่องchɔ̂ng1opening; gap; slot2TV channel; broadcast channel3compartment; section4field (form); input box5classifier for channels/slots6opportunity; window7lane; passageแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)หมุนmǔnหมุนmǔn1[to] turn; rotate; spin2[to] twist; screw (by turning)3[to] circulate; rotate (usage/roles)4rotating; revolving5[to] manage cash flow; scrape together money
Put the key into the slot and turn it.
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เขาkǎoเอาaoจดหมายjòt-mǎaiใส่sàiเข้าไปในkâo-bpai-naiซองsɔɔngด้วยความระมัดระวังdûuai-kwaam-rá-mát-rá-wang
He carefully inserted the letter into the envelope.
Please insert the charging cable into the port in alignment.
ช่างchângใช้cháiคีมkeemหนีบnèepหมุดmùtแล้วláeoกดgòtเข้าไปในkâo bpai naiรูruuจนแน่นjon nâenสนิทsà-nìt
The technician used pliers to grip the pin and pressed it into the hole until it fit tightly.
3VerbB1
[to] understand
to grasp or comprehend the meaning of something
Examples
ฉันchănฉันchăn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)ยังyangยังyang1still; continuing2not yet (with ไม่)3yet? (question use)4still/even (emphatic degree)ไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)เข้าใจkâo jaiเข้าใจkâo jai1[to] understand; grasp2[to] assume; take sth to be true3[to be] understanding (of [sb])คำอธิบายkam à-tí-baaiคำอธิบายkam à-tí-baai1explanation; clarification2explanatory note; caption; legend; descriptionนี้néeนี้née1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)ช่วยchûuaiช่วยchûuai1[to] help; assist [sb/sth]2please (request marker)3[to] save; rescue [sb]อธิบายà-tí-baaiอธิบายà-tí-baai[to] explain; clarifyช้าcháaช้าcháa1slow2slowly3late; delayed4[to] be slow; be lateๆ-ได้ไหมdâi măiได้ไหมdâi măi1is it possible/allowed?; OK?2could you ... ? (request softener)
I still don't understand this explanation; could you explain it slowly?
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พอpɔɔฟังfangตัวอย่างdtuua-yàangเพิ่มpə̂əmฉันchǎnก็gɔ̂เริ่มrə̂əmเข้าใจkâo-jaiหลักการlàk-gaanมากขึ้นmâak-kʉ̂n
After listening to more examples, I started to understand the principle better.
Do you understand the implied meaning of this sentence yet?
ตอนแรกdtɔɔn-rɛ̂ɛkผมpǒmไม่mâiเข้าใจkâo-jaiบริบทbɔɔ-rí-bòtทางวัฒนธรรมtaang-wát-tá-ná-tamแต่dtɛ̀ɛพอpɔɔอ่านàanภูมิหลังpuum-lǎngแล้วก็lɛ́ɛo-gɔ̂เข้าใจประเด็นkâo-jai-bprà-denทันทีtan-tii
At first I didn't understand the cultural context, but after reading the background I understood the point immediately.
4VerbB1
[to] join; enter (an organization, school, etc.)
to be admitted to or become a member of (a school, company, group, etc.)
Examples
ปีหน้าbpii-nâaปีหน้าbpii-nâanext yearฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)อยากyàakอยากyàak1[to] want; desire2to crave; to long forเข้าkâoเข้าkâo1[to] enter; go in2[to] put in; insert3[to] understand4[to] join; enter (an organization, school, etc.)5[to] fit; suit; match6rice (archaic; dialectal)7[to] enter; reach (a period or stage)โรงเรียนroong-riianโรงเรียนroong-riian1school (institution)2school (building)นี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)
Next year I want to get into this school.
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เขาkǎoเตรียมdtriiamแฟ้มผลงานfɛ́ɛm-pǒn-ngaanเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaสมัครsà-màkเข้าkâoองค์กรระหว่างประเทศong-gɔɔn-rá-wàang-bprà-têet
He prepared a portfolio to apply for admission to an international organization.
น้องสาวnɔ́ɔng-sǎaoตั้งใจdtâng-jaiอ่านหนังสือàan-nǎng-sʉ̌ʉเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaจะได้jà-dâaiเข้าkâoสาขาsǎa-kǎaที่tîiฝันfǎnไว้wái
My younger sister studies hard so that she can get into the major she dreams of.
หลังlǎngผ่านpàanรอบrɔ̂ɔpข้อเขียนkɔ̂ɔ-kǐianผู้สมัครpûu-sà-màkต้องdtɔ̂ngสัมภาษณ์sǎm-pâatอีกครั้งìik-krángจึงjʉngจะjàเข้าkâoเป็นbpenสมาชิกsà-maa-chíkของkɔ̌ɔngชมรมchom-romได้dâai
After passing the written round, applicants must interview again to be admitted as members of the club.
5VerbB1
[to] fit; suit; match
to be compatible with, appropriate for, or fit into (size, role, context)
Examples
เสื้อsʉ̂ʉaเสื้อsʉ̂ʉa1shirt; top2jacket; coat3classifier: ตัวตัวdtuuaตัวdtuua1body; self; person (colloq.)2classifier: animals, garments, furniture, certain items; people (informal)3character; figureนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)ไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)เข้าkâoเข้าkâo1[to] enter; go in2[to] put in; insert3[to] understand4[to] join; enter (an organization, school, etc.)5[to] fit; suit; match6rice (archaic; dialectal)7[to] enter; reach (a period or stage)ไซซ์saiไซซ์sai1size (measurement; dimension)2size (clothing/shoes label; S, M, L, 38, 40)ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)หลวมlǔuamหลวมlǔuam1loose (not tight)2slack; lax (not firm or strict)ไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already pastหน่อยหนึ่งnɔ̀i-nʉ̀ngหน่อยหนึ่งnɔ̀i-nʉ̀ng1a little bit; a small amount2a small amount
This shirt doesn’t fit my size; it’s a bit loose.
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บทบาทbòt-bàatนี้níiไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂iเข้าkâoเขาkǎoเพราะprɔ́บุคลิกbùk-ká-líkต่างจากdtàang-jàakตัวละครdtuua-lá-kɔɔnมากไปmâak-bpai
This role doesn’t quite suit him because his personality is too different from the character.
สีsǐiรองเท้าrɔɔng-táaoคู่kûuใหม่màiเข้าkâoเสื้อผ้าsʉ̂ʉa-pâaที่tîiเราraoมีmiiอยู่แล้วyùu-lɛ́ɛoพอดีpɔɔ-dii
The color of the new shoes goes well with the clothes we already have.
ข้อเสนอkɔ̂ɔ-sà-nə̌əนี้níiเข้าkâoเงื่อนไขngʉ̂ʉan-kǎiของkɔ̌ɔngโครงการkroong-gaanและlɛ́สอดคล้องกับsɔ̀ɔt-klɔ́ɔng-gàpเป้าหมายbpâo-mǎaiระยะยาวrá-yá-yaao
This proposal fits the program’s criteria and aligns with the long-term goals.
6NounB1
rice (archaic; dialectal)
an older or regional form of ข้าวข้าวkâao1rice (cooked)2rice (grain/uncooked)3meal; food (general)4rice plant; paddy, meaning rice
Examples
แลงนี้laeng néeแลงนี้laeng néethis eveningกินginกินgin1[to] eat2[to] drink (colloquial/with some nouns)3[to] consume; use up4[to] corrode; erode; eat into5[to] take (a bribe); pocketเข้าkâoเข้าkâo1[to] enter; go in2[to] put in; insert3[to] understand4[to] join; enter (an organization, school, etc.)5[to] fit; suit; match6rice (archaic; dialectal)7[to] enter; reach (a period or stage)เหนียวnĭiaoเหนียวnĭiao1sticky; adhesive2chewy; tough (texture)3stingy; tightfisted4tough; enduring (colloq.)กับgàpกับgàp1with; together with2and (informal)3side dish; accompaniment4against; versus5to; toward (recipient/target)6classifier: sets/pairs (spoon and fork)น้ำพริกnáam príkน้ำพริกnáam príkchili paste; chili dipกันganกันgan1together; together with2each other; one another (post-verb marker)3[to] prevent; keep [sth] out; ward off; block4protective; resistant to; -proof5I; me (informal, male speech)6[to] set aside; reserve; earmarkบ่bòบ่bò1not; no (Isan/Northern particle)2yes–no question particle (Isan/Northern)
Shall we eat sticky rice with chili dip this evening?
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This morning Mom cooked fresh rice; the whole house smelled fragrant.
เวลาwee-laaไปนาbpai-naaปู่bpùuสิห่อsì-hɔ̀ɔเข้ากับkâo-gàpปลาแห้งbplaa-hɛ̂ɛngไปbpaiกินginมื้อเที่ยงmʉ́ʉ-tîiang
When going to the field, Grandpa wraps rice with dried fish for lunch.
งานบุญngaan-bunวันนี้wan-níiเขาkǎoจัดขันโตกjàt-kǎn-dtòokมีmiiเข้าkâoเหนียวnǐiaoเข้าkâoจี่jìiและlɛ́กับข้าวgàp-kâaoพื้นบ้านpʉ́ʉn-bâanหลายอย่างlǎai-yàang
At today's merit-making, they served a Khantoke set with sticky rice, grilled rice patties, and various local dishes.
I have eaten rice today.
In the evening we'll eat rice with clear soup.
Grandma says hot rice should be eaten with chili paste to be delicious.
7VerbB2
[to] enter; reach (a period or stage)
to pass into or reach a particular season, period, age, or stage
Examples
พอpɔɔพอpɔɔ1enough; sufficient2enough; sufficiently3[to] suffice; be enough4quite; rather; fairly5as soon as; whenเข้าkâoเข้าkâo1[to] enter; go in2[to] put in; insert3[to] understand4[to] join; enter (an organization, school, etc.)5[to] fit; suit; match6rice (archaic; dialectal)7[to] enter; reach (a period or stage)เทอมtəəmเทอมtəəmterm; semesterใหม่màiใหม่mài1new; not old2new; different; fresh3again; anew4new; inexperienced (novice)งานngaanงานngaan1work; job; employment2task; assignment; duty3event; fair; function4work (product); creation5unit (classifier) for events6work (physics)ก็gɔ̂ก็gɔ̂1also; too2then; so (sequence/result)3conditional marker (if… then…)4well; after all (emphasis/justification)5topic/resumption markerเริ่มrə̂əmเริ่มrə̂əm1[to] start; begin2[to] start to; begin toหนักขึ้นnàk-kʉ̂nหนักขึ้นnàk-kʉ̂nmore severely; more heavily; worse (comparative)ทันทีtan-tiiทันทีtan-tiiimmediately; at once
Once the new semester starts, the workload immediately increases.
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กฎgòtใหม่màiจะjàมีผลบังคับใช้mii-pǒn-bang-káp-cháiตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛเดือนหน้าdʉʉan-nâaทุกคนtúk-konต้องdtɔ̂ngเตรียมตัวdtriiam-dtuua
The new rules will come into effect starting next month; everyone must prepare.
เมื่อmʉ̂ʉaโครงการkroong-gaanเข้าkâoเฟสféetทดลองtót-lɔɔngเราraoจะjàประเมินผลbprà-məən-pǒnทุกtúkสองsɔ̌ɔngสัปดาห์sàp-daa
When the project enters the trial phase, we will evaluate the results every two weeks.
แผนpɛ̌ɛnปฏิบัติงานbpà-dtì-bàt-ngaanฉบับปรับปรุงchà-bàp-bpràp-bprungจะjàมีผลบังคับใช้mii-pǒn-bang-káp-cháiอย่างyàangเต็มรูปแบบdtem-rûup-bɛ̀ɛpในnaiไตรมาสdtrai-mâatหน้าnâa
The revised operational plan will fully come into effect next quarter.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh class
- Tone markMai tho
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Falling tone
kâo
Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.
High class + Mai tho → Falling
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 | — | — |