เทาๆ
tao taoMeanings
1AdjectiveA2
grayish; somewhat gray
having a color that is somewhat gray; grayish
Examples
แมวmaeoแมวmaeocatของฉันkŏng chănของฉันkŏng chănmy; mineมีขนmee kŏnมีขนmee kŏn1hairy; furry2[to] have hair/fur/feathers/bristlesสีsĕeสีsĕe1color2paint3[to] rub; scrub; polish4flush (poker)5[to] mill; husk (rice)6[to] play (a bowed instrument)เทาๆtao taoเทาๆtao tao1grayish; somewhat gray2shady; morally ambiguous
My cat has grayish fur.
3 more examplesShow less
Today the sky looks somewhat gray, like it's going to rain.
I want a grayish shirt; I don't want a completely black one.
น้ำnáamในnaiคลองklongเปลี่ยนเป็นbplìian bpenสีsĕeเทาๆtao taoหลังจากที่lăng jàak têeมีmeeโรงงานrohng ngaanมาmaaเปิดbpèrtแถวนี้tăeo née
The water in the canal turned a grayish color after a factory opened around here.
2AdjectiveB2
shady; morally ambiguous
morally ambiguous, shady, or borderline illegal (often used to describe activities, businesses, or situations)
Examples
เขาkăoเขาkăo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillทำงานtam ngaanทำงานtam ngaan1[to] work; do one's job; be on duty2[to] function; operateเกี่ยวกับgìiao gàpเกี่ยวกับgìiao gàp1about; regarding; concerning2[to] relate to; concern; be aboutธุรกิจtú-rá-gìtธุรกิจtú-rá-gìt1business (commercial activity)2business (company; enterprise)3business affairs; work mattersเทาๆtao taoเทาๆtao tao1grayish; somewhat gray2shady; morally ambiguousทำให้tam hâiทำให้tam hâi1[to] make; cause [sb/sth] to [do/be sth]; render2[to] do/make [sth] for [sb]หลายคนlăai konหลายคนlăai konmany/several peopleไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)อยากyàakอยากyàak1[to] want; desire2to crave; to long forคบkópคบkóp1[to] associate with; keep company with; be friends with2[to] date (romantically); be in a relationshipด้วยdûuayด้วยdûuay1with; together with2also; too; as well3by; by means of; using4because of; due to5because; since (formal/literary)6request particle; please; too
He works in a shady business, which makes many people not want to associate with him.
3 more examplesShow less
The money he got seems borderline illegal, so I don't want to accept it.
เขาkăoเข้าไปพัวพันkâo bpai puua-panกับgàpเรื่องrêuuangเทาๆtao taoหลายอย่างlăai yàangจนjonตำรวจdtam-rùuatต้องdtôngคอยkoiจับตาดูjàp dtaa doo
He got involved in several shady matters, so the police have to keep an eye on him.
แหล่งข่าวlàeng kàaoรายงานraai-ngaanว่าwâaมีmeeกลุ่มนายทุนglùm naai tunเทาๆtao taoอยู่เบื้องหลังyòo bêuuang lăngการgaanกว้านซื้อgwâan séuuที่ดินtêe dinในnaiราคาถูกraa-kaa tòok
Sources report that there is a group of shady capitalists behind the mass purchasing of land at cheap prices.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is เทาๆ said เทา-เทา?
tao tao
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 syllableThe vowel เ-า hides a final -ว, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
tao
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 | — | — |