เอาแต่
ao-dtɛ̀ɛMeaning
1ParticleB1
only; nothing but
used before a verb to show that someone does nothing except that action; only; nothing but (e.g., เอาแต่เล่น = only plays)
Examples
ช่วงนี้chûuang-níiช่วงนี้chûuang-níi1these days; lately; currently2this period (of time); the current periodเขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillเอาแต่ao-dtɛ̀ɛเอาแต่ao-dtɛ̀ɛonly; nothing butเล่นเกมlên-geemเล่นเกมlên-geem[to] play gamesไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)ยอมyɔɔmยอมyɔɔm1[to] agree; consent2[to] allow; permit3[to] yield; give in; submit4[to] admit (acknowledge)ทำการบ้านtam-gaan-bâanทำการบ้านtam-gaan-bâan1[to] do homework2[to] prepare oneself; [to] do researchเลยləəiเลยləəi1at all; whatsoever (often in negatives)2so; thus; then (immediate result)3completely; absolutely (emphasis)4[to] pass; go beyond; exceed
These days he does nothing but play games and refuses to do homework.
3 more examplesShow less
พอpɔɔมีmiiเวลาว่างwee-laa-wâangเธอtəəก็gɔ̂เอาแต่ao-dtɛ̀ɛนอนnɔɔnทั้งวันtáng-wanไม่ได้mâi-dâaiทำtamอย่างอื่นyàang-ʉ̀ʉn
Whenever she has free time, she does nothing but sleep; she doesn't do anything else all day.
เขาkǎoเอาแต่ao-dtɛ̀ɛบ่นbònตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛเช้าcháoทำให้tam-hâiบรรยากาศban-yaa-gàatในบ้านnai-bâanตึงเครียดdtʉng-krîiat
He has done nothing but complain since morning, making the atmosphere at home tense.
ระหว่างประชุมrá-wàang-bprà-chumเขาkǎoเอาแต่ao-dtɛ̀ɛเช็กchékมือถือmʉʉ-tʉ̌ʉจนjonพลาดplâatประเด็นสำคัญbprà-den-sǎm-kanหลายlǎaiเรื่องrʉ̂ʉang
During the meeting, he did nothing but check his phone and ended up missing several key points.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel เ-า hides a final -ว, so it is live.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Mid tone
ao
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Mid 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 | — | — |
Word Breakdown
เอาaoเอาao1[to] take; get; pick2[to] want (request/ordering)3[to] use; employ4[to] bring/take (for use)5marker: adverse consequence6come on; all right; go ahead7[to] have sex (vulgar slang)8auxiliary marking emphasis or result[to] take; get; pickPart 1
+
แต่dtɛ̀ɛแต่dtɛ̀ɛ1but; however (contrast)2only; just (restriction)3from; since (starting point)but; however (contrast)Part 2
เอาแต่ao-dtɛ̀ɛเอาแต่ao-dtɛ̀ɛonly; nothing butonly; nothing butWord