แต่
dtɛ̀ɛMeanings
1ConjunctionA1
but; however (contrast)
Conjunction introducing contrast or exception between clauses or sentences.
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)อยากyàakอยากyàak1[to] want; desire2to crave; to long forไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already pastแต่dtɛ̀ɛแต่dtɛ̀ɛ1but; however (contrast)2only; just (restriction)3from; since (starting point)ฝนตกfǒn-dtòkฝนตกfǒn-dtòkit is raining; [to] rain
I want to go, but it’s raining.
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We left home in a hurry, but we were still late.
I want to buy this shirt, but I don’t have enough money.
2AdverbA2
only; just (restriction)
Preposed limiter meaning 'only' or 'just' that restricts scope or quantity (e.g., แต่เขาคนเดียว = only him).
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillมีแต่mii-dtɛ̀ɛมีแต่mii-dtɛ̀ɛ1have only; nothing but2there is/are only; nothing else3do nothing but; only ever [do]4only serves to; merely results inดินสอdin-sɔ̌ɔดินสอdin-sɔ̌ɔ1pencil2classifier: แท่งแท่งtɛ̂ngแท่งtɛ̂ng1rod; bar; stick (solid, elongated piece)2classifier (long, solid pieces)เดียวdiiaoเดียวdiiaosingle; one; only; same
He has only one pencil.
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In the bag there are only coins, no banknotes.
วันนี้wan-níiเปิดรับสมัครbpə̀ət-ráp-sà-màkแต่dtɛ̀ɛผู้ที่pûu-tîiมีmiiบัตรประชาชนbàt-bprà-chaa-chonเท่านั้นtâo-nán
Today applications are open only to those who have an ID card.
งานngaanนี้níiคัดเลือกkát-lʉ̂ʉakแต่dtɛ̀ɛผลงานpǒn-ngaanที่tîiตีพิมพ์dtii-pimแล้วlɛ́ɛoจึงjʉngต้องdtɔ̂ngเตรียมdtriiamหลักฐานlàk-tǎanให้hâiพร้อมprɔ́ɔm
This event selects only works that have been published, so you must prepare the documentation.
3PrepositionA2
from; since (starting point)
Marks a starting point in time, age, amount, or condition; commonly in แต่เด็ก, แต่ก่อนแต่ก่อนdtɛ̀ɛ-gɔ̀ɔnformerly; previously; in the old days, ตั้งแต่ตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛfrom; since (starting point).
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)ชอบchɔ̂ɔpชอบchɔ̂ɔp1[to] like; be fond of2tend to; usually3be proper; be fitting (formal)อ่านหนังสือàan-nǎng-sʉ̌ʉอ่านหนังสือàan-nǎng-sʉ̌ʉ[to] read; [to] studyตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛfrom; since (starting point)เด็กdèkเด็กdèk1child; kid2young person (informal)
I have liked reading since childhood.
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เขาkǎoทำงานtam-ngaanร้านกาแฟráan-gaa-fɛɛแต่ก่อนdtɛ̀ɛ-gɔ̀ɔnตอนนี้dtɔɔn-níiย้ายไปyáai-bpaiบริษัทbɔɔ-rí-sàtแล้วlɛ́ɛo
He used to work at a café before; now he has moved to a company.
This shop is open from seven in the morning.
ครอบครัวkrɔ̂ɔp-kruuaนี้níiอาศัยอยู่aa-sǎi-yùuในnaiย่านนี้yâan-níiมาmaaตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛสมัยsà-mǎiปู่ย่าbpùu-yâa
This family has lived in this neighborhood since the grandparents’ era.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Low tone
dtɛ̀ɛ
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
Mid class + Mai ek → Low
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 | — | — |