เดี๋ยว
dǐiaoMeanings
1AdverbA2
soon; in a moment
after a short time; shortly; in a moment (e.g., เดี๋ยวไป เดี๋ยวมาเดี๋ยวมาdǐiao-maabe right back)
Examples
รอrɔɔรอrɔɔ1[to] wait2[to] wait for; awaitแป๊บหนึ่งbpɛ́p-nʉ̀ngแป๊บหนึ่งbpɛ́p-nʉ̀ngJust a moment; one momentนะnáนะná1softener; friendly particle2persuasive/confirming particle3wondering particleเดี๋ยวdǐiaoเดี๋ยวdǐiao1soon; in a moment2for a moment; briefly; one moment3wait! just a moment4otherwise; or else (colloq.)5alternating; now … now …ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)มาmaaมาmaa1[to] come; arrive2[to] come to (a state or situation)3past/as of now aspect marker
Wait a moment, I'll be right back.
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Wait a moment; I’ll be there shortly.
After finishing eating, we’ll head out shortly.
ฉันchǎnขอkɔ̌ɔเคลียร์งานkliia-ngaanนี้níiก่อนgɔ̀ɔnเดี๋ยวค่อยdǐiao-kɔ̂iไปเจอbpai-jəəที่tîiร้านกาแฟráan-gaa-fɛɛ
Let me finish this task first; I’ll meet you at the café shortly.
2AdverbA2
for a moment; briefly; one moment
for a short time; for a moment (e.g., รอเดี๋ยวหนึ่ง wait a moment)
Examples
รอrɔɔรอrɔɔ1[to] wait2[to] wait for; awaitเดี๋ยวเดียวdǐiao-diiaoเดี๋ยวเดียวdǐiao-diiao1a brief moment2just a moment (please)ผมpǒmผมpǒm1I; me (male speaker, polite)2hair (on the head)หยิบyìpหยิบyìp1[to] pick up; take (with fingers)2[to] select; choose (a small item)3a pinch (measure)โทรศัพท์too-rá-sàpโทรศัพท์too-rá-sàp1telephone; phone2[to] telephone [sb]; [to] call3phone callก่อนgɔ̀ɔnก่อนgɔ̀ɔn1before; earlier; previously; first2previous; prior; former
Wait just a moment, let me grab my phone first.
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Let me talk to the teacher for a moment, then I’ll come back.
Can I use the bathroom for just a moment?
Sit and rest for a moment first, then continue.
3InterjectionA2
wait! just a moment
an interjection asking someone to wait briefly; hold on
Examples
เดี๋ยวdǐiaoเดี๋ยวdǐiao1soon; in a moment2for a moment; briefly; one moment3wait! just a moment4otherwise; or else (colloq.)5alternating; now … now …รอก่อนrɔɔ-gɔ̀ɔnรอก่อนrɔɔ-gɔ̀ɔnwait a moment; hold onนะnáนะná1softener; friendly particle2persuasive/confirming particle3wondering particleฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)กำลังgam-langกำลังgam-lang1currently; in the middle of2power; strength3power (physics)4troops; forcesใส่sàiใส่sài1[to] put in; [to] add2[to] wear; [to] put on3[to] include; [to] insert (data, settings)4[to] attack; [to] go at (colloq.)รองเท้าrɔɔng-táaoรองเท้าrɔɔng-táaoshoe; footwear
Hold on, wait a moment; I’m putting on my shoes.
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Hold on, let me check the bus schedule before we leave.
เดี๋ยวdǐiaoขอkɔ̌ɔสายsǎaiกับgàpผู้จัดการpûu-jàt-gaanแป๊บหนึ่งbpɛ́p-nʉ̀ngแล้วlɛ́ɛoจะjàตอบกลับdtɔ̀ɔp-glàp
Hold on, let me get the manager on the line and I’ll get back to you.
เดี๋ยวdǐiaoคุณkunรอrɔɔที่tîiเคาน์เตอร์kao-dtə̂əสักครู่sàk-krûuเดี๋ยวdǐiaoเจ้าหน้าที่jâao-nâa-tîiจะjàเรียกชื่อrîiak-chʉ̂ʉ
Hold on, please wait at the counter for a moment; a staff member will call your name.
4ConjunctionB2
otherwise; or else (colloq.)
used before a clause warning of an impending or possible consequence, often if a precaution is not taken (e.g., เดี๋ยวโดนดุนะ you’ll get scolded)
Examples
อย่าyàaอย่าyàadon’t; do not (negative imperative)พูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutเสียงดังsǐiang-dangเสียงดังsǐiang-dang1loud; noisy (high volume)2a loud noiseในnaiในnai1in; inside; within2during; in (time)3of; belonging to (formal)ห้องสมุดhɔ̂ng-sà-mùtห้องสมุดhɔ̂ng-sà-mùtlibraryเดี๋ยวdǐiaoเดี๋ยวdǐiao1soon; in a moment2for a moment; briefly; one moment3wait! just a moment4otherwise; or else (colloq.)5alternating; now … now …โดนdoonโดนdoon1[to] hit; make contact with [sb/sth]2[to] get; be subjected to (passive, often negative)3[to] be hit; be struck; be affected4[to] hit the mark; be spot on (slang/colloq.)5for a long time (Isan)บรรณารักษ์ban-naa-rákบรรณารักษ์ban-naa-ráklibrarianเตือนdtʉʉanเตือนdtʉʉan1[to] remind2[to] warn3[to] caution; admonishนะnáนะná1softener; friendly particle2persuasive/confirming particle3wondering particle
Don’t talk loudly in the library, or the librarian will warn you.
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Tie your shoelaces quickly, or you might fall.
ขับรถkàp-rótช้าcháaหน่อยnɔ̀iเดี๋ยวdǐiaoโดนdoonกล้องglɔ̂ngจับjàpความเร็วkwaam-reoแล้วlɛ́ɛoเสียค่าปรับsǐia-kâa-bpràp
Drive a bit slower, or the speed camera will catch you and you’ll get fined.
อย่าyàaก๊อปgɔ́pงานngaanคนอื่นkon-ʉ̀ʉnเดี๋ยวdǐiaoถูกtùukตัดdtàtคะแนนká-nɛɛnและlɛ́มีmiiประวัติbprà-wàtไม่ดีmâi-dii
Don’t copy someone else’s work, or you’ll lose points and get a bad record.
5AdverbB2
alternating; now … now …
used repetitively to indicate alternation or rapid change (เดี๋ยวเดี๋ยวdǐiao1soon; in a moment2for a moment; briefly; one moment3wait! just a moment4otherwise; or else (colloq.)5alternating; now … now ……เดี๋ยวเดี๋ยวdǐiao1soon; in a moment2for a moment; briefly; one moment3wait! just a moment4otherwise; or else (colloq.)5alternating; now … now ……)
Examples
อากาศaa-gàatอากาศaa-gàat1air2weatherวันนี้wan-níiวันนี้wan-níi1today (time of speech)2today; this day3nowadays; at presentเดี๋ยวdǐiaoเดี๋ยวdǐiao1soon; in a moment2for a moment; briefly; one moment3wait! just a moment4otherwise; or else (colloq.)5alternating; now … now …แดดdɛ̀ɛtแดดdɛ̀ɛtsunlight; sunshineออกɔ̀ɔkออกɔ̀ɔk1[to] go out; exit; leave2out; outward3[in sports] out of bounds4[to] come out; appear; be issued5[to] produce; emit; put out6[to] pay; spend; disburse7[to] quit; resign8[to] issue; publish9successfully; out (indicating comprehension or discovery)เดี๋ยวdǐiaoเดี๋ยวdǐiao1soon; in a moment2for a moment; briefly; one moment3wait! just a moment4otherwise; or else (colloq.)5alternating; now … now …ฝนตกfǒn-dtòkฝนตกfǒn-dtòkit is raining; [to] rainจนjonจนjon1poor2until; up to3so ... that; to the point ofวางwaangวางwaang1[to] put; place; set (down)2[to] hang up (the phone); end a call3[to] lay (eggs)4[to] lay out; formulate; establish (plan/policy/system)5[to] set; assign; impose6[to] let go of; relinquish (attachment/prejudice)แผนเที่ยวpɛ̌ɛn-tîiaoแผนเที่ยวpɛ̌ɛn-tîiaotrip plan; travel plan; itineraryไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)ถูกtùukถูกtùuk1cheap; inexpensive2correct; right3[to] touch; come into contact with [sb/sth]4to be correct/right5proper; morally right6[to] be affected; suffer (often adverse)7passive marker (often adverse)
Today the weather keeps switching between sunny and rainy, so I can’t plan the trip.
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เขาkǎoเดี๋ยวdǐiaoก็gɔ̂บอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâaชอบchɔ̂ɔpเดี๋ยวdǐiaoก็gɔ̂บอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâaไม่ชอบmâi-chɔ̂ɔpทำให้tam-hâiคนอื่นkon-ʉ̀ʉnสับสนsàp-sǒn
One moment he says he likes it, the next he says he doesn't, confusing everyone.
ตลาดหุ้นdtà-làat hûnช่วงนี้chûuang néeขึ้นkêunๆ-ลงlongๆ-เดี๋ยวdĭiaoพุ่งpûngเดี๋ยวdĭiaoร่วงrûuangนักลงทุนnák long tunต้องdtôngระวังrá-wangความผันผวนkwaam păn pŭuan
The stock market is going up and down—soaring then plunging—investors must beware of the volatility.
สื่อสังคมออนไลน์sʉ̀ʉ-sǎng-kom-ɔɔn-laaiเดี๋ยวdǐiaoยกยอyók-yɔɔเดี๋ยวdǐiaoกระหน่ำgrà-nàmวิจารณ์wí-jaanสะท้อนsà-tɔ́ɔnวาทกรรมwaa-tá-gamที่tîiเปลี่ยนbplìianเร็วreoมากmâak
Social media praises one moment and fiercely criticizes the next, reflecting very rapid shifts in discourse.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markMai chattawa
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Rising tone
dǐiao
Dips low first, then rises clearly.
Mid class + Mai chattawa → 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 | — | — |