เค็มๆ
kem-kemMeanings
1AdjectiveA2
slightly salty; briny
tasting a bit salty; mildly salty or briny
Examples
แกงgaengแกงgaeng1Thai curry (soup/stew)2[to] make curry; cook a curry dish3classifier: อย่างนี้néeนี้née1this2this oneรสชาติrót-châatรสชาติrót-châat1taste; flavor (of food/drink)2quality; character; feelเค็มๆkem-kemเค็มๆkem-kem1slightly salty; briny2a bit stingy (informal)
This curry tastes a bit salty.
3 more examplesShow less
He likes to eat fried fish that's a little bit salty.
This snack is a bit salty and rich; it's enjoyable to eat.
แม่mâeบอกว่าbòk wâaเวลาway-laaทำกับข้าวtam gàp kâaoให้hâiปรุงรสbprung rótเค็มๆkem-kemไว้wáiนิดนึงnít neungจะjàทำให้tam hâiอาหารaa-hăanอร่อยà-ròiขึ้นkêun
My mom said that when cooking, adding a slightly salty flavor will make the food more delicious.
2AdjectiveB2
a bit stingy (informal)
somewhat unwilling to spend money; frugal to a fault (informal, figurative; softens the criticism)
Examples
เพื่อนpêuuanเพื่อนpêuuan1friend2companion; peer (classmate, colleague)คนนี้kon néeคนนี้kon néethis personเขาkăoเขาkăo1he; she; him; her2they; them (context-dependent)3horn4mountain; hillจะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3will; would (in conditional results)เค็มๆkem-kemเค็มๆkem-kem1slightly salty; briny2a bit stingy (informal)หน่อยnòiหน่อยnòi1a little; a bit2polite softener (request)ไม่ค่อยmâi kôiไม่ค่อยmâi kôi1rarely; seldom; not often2not very; hardly (degree)เลี้ยงlíiangเลี้ยงlíiang1[to] raise; bring up2[to] keep (as a pet); rear3[to] feed4[to] support; maintain5[to] host; treatอะไรà-raiอะไรà-rai1what2what; what kind of (modifier)3something; anything (unspecified)4what? (interjection of surprise/confusion)ใครkraiใครkrai1who2anyone; whoever
This friend is a bit stingy; he doesn't really treat anyone to anything.
3 more examplesShow less
อย่าyàaไปbpaiชวนchuanเขาkăoหารhăanเงินngernเลยloieเขาkăoเป็นbpenคนkonเค็มๆkem-kemเดี๋ยวdĭiaoจะjàเสียsĭiaบรรยากาศban-yaa-gàatเปล่าๆbplào bplào
Don't ask him to split the bill. He's a bit tight with money, and it might just ruin the mood.
ถึงแม้tĕung máeเขาkăoจะมีjà meeเงินเดือนngern deuuanสูงsŏongแต่dtàeเขาkăoก็gâwยังyangใช้ชีวิตchái chee-wítแบบbàepเค็มๆkem-kemประหยัดbprà-yàtทุกอย่างtúk yàang
Even though he has a high salary, he still lives a somewhat frugal-to-a-fault lifestyle, saving on everything.
นิสัยní-săiเค็มๆkem-kemของเขาkŏng kăoทำให้tam hâiคนรอบข้างkon rôp kâangรู้สึกrúu-sèukอึดอัดèut àtเวลาway-laaต้องdtôngไปกินข้าวbpai gin kâaoด้วยกันdûuai gan
His somewhat miserly nature makes those around him feel uncomfortable whenever they have to eat out together.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is เค็มๆ said เค็ม-เค็ม?
kem-kem
Thai spelling does not always show how a word sounds. This is how it is said.
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableEnds in -ม, a sonorant, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
kem
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Low 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 | — | — |