เป็น

bpen

Meanings

1NounA1

to be (identity/category/state)

copular verb linking a subject with a noun, role, or category (to be/serve as). Not used directly before most descriptive adjectives.

Examples

เขาkăoเขาkăo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillเป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4[to] be + set expressionsครูkruuครูkruu1teacher2master; mentor (respectful)3teacher (classifier; formal)
He is a teacher.
2NounA2

to become

to come to be; to turn into a certain state or role.

Examples

อากาศเย็นaa-gàat yenอากาศเย็นaa-gàat yencool weatherลงlongลงlong1[to] go down; descend2[to] put; apply; record3[to] decrease; go down4[to] land; alight5down; downstream6downstream; southbound7[to] get off (vehicle)ใบไม้bai máaiใบไม้bai máaileaf; leaves; foliageเริ่มrêrmเริ่มrêrm1[to] start; begin2[to] start to; begin toเป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4[to] be + set expressionsสีเหลืองsĕe lĕuuangสีเหลืองsĕe lĕuuang1yellow (color)2yellow (the color)3‘Yellow’ (Thai politics)4yellow (journalism); sensationalist
The weather turned cooler; the leaves are starting to become yellow.
3NounA2

[to] know how; be able to (skill)

to have the learned ability or skill to do something; can (e.g., เล่นเป็น ‘can play’).

Examples

ฉันchănฉันchăn1I; me (1st person pronoun)2[to] eat (polite/old-fashioned)ว่ายน้ำwâai námว่ายน้ำwâai nám[to] swimเป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4[to] be + set expressions
I can swim.
4NounB1

[to] be + set expressions

used before certain nouns/adjectival nouns in fixed expressions of state (e.g., เป็นไข้เป็นไข้bpen kâi[to] have a fever; be feverish ‘have a fever’, เป็นหนี้เป็นหนี้bpen nêe[to] be in debt; [to] owe [sb] [sth] ‘be in debt’).

Examples

เมื่อคืนmêuua keunเมื่อคืนmêuua keun1last night (the night before today)2last nightฉันchănฉันchăn1I; me (1st person pronoun)2[to] eat (polite/old-fashioned)เป็นไข้bpen kâiเป็นไข้bpen kâi[to] have a fever; be feverishเลยloieเลยloie1so; thus; then (immediate result)2completely; absolutely (emphasis)3past; beyond; exceed4at all; whatsoever (often in negatives)ไม่ได้mâi dâaiไม่ได้mâi dâai1cannot; not allowed; impossible2did not3[to] fail to get/receive [sth]4unacceptable; not allowed (won’t do)5No way!; absolutely not6not really/actually (corrective)ออกไปòk bpaiออกไปòk bpai1[to] go out; leave; exit2[to] lead out to; extend to3[!] Get out!ไหนnăiไหนnăi1which (asking to choose)2which one; which person/thing3where (question)4ever; any (indefinite)
I had a fever last night, so I didn't go out.

Related Words

Similar Meaning

รู้rúuรู้rúu1[to] know; be aware of2[to] know how (to do)3[to] feel; sense; perceive4be acquainted with (someone/thing)5[to] realize; find out; learn
  • [to] know; be aware of
  • [to] know how (to do)
  • [to] feel; sense; perceive
  • be acquainted with (someone/thing)
  • [to] realize; find out; learn
กลายเป็นglaai bpenกลายเป็นglaai bpen1[to] become; turn into [sth]2[to] turn out (to be) [sth/that]
  • [to] become; turn into [sth]
  • [to] turn out (to be) [sth/that]
ได้dâiได้dâi1get; obtain; receive2may (polite permission/request)3able to (postverbal/resultative)4manage to; succeed in (achievement)5can; be able to; may (possibility/permission)
  • get; obtain; receive
  • may (polite permission/request)
  • able to (postverbal/resultative)
  • manage to; succeed in (achievement)
  • can; be able to; may (possibility/permission)