ไผ่
pàiMeanings
1NounA2
bamboo
a fast-growing woody grass with hollow jointed stems, used for building, crafts, and as food
Examples
หลังบ้านlǎng-bâanหลังบ้านlǎng-bâan1back of the house; backyard2domestic affairs; family side (figurative)3wife (figurative)ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)ปลูกbplùukปลูกbplùuk1[to] plant; grow (plants)2[to] build (a house); erect; set up (structure)3[to] instill; cultivate (values/habits)ไผ่pàiไผ่pài1bamboo2Phai (given name/nickname)ไว้wáiไว้wái1[to] keep; save; store2[to] set aside; reserve3for later; in reserve4[to] leave (something) as is5marks retention or maintenance of a state6[to] wear; sport (hair/moustache/etc.)หลายlǎaiหลายlǎaimany; severalกอgɔɔกอgɔɔ1clump; tuft (of plants)2classifier for clumps of plants
Behind my house I planted several clumps of bamboo.
3 more examplesShow less
ช่างchângใช้cháiไผ่pàiทำtamรั้วบ้านrúua-bâanเพราะprɔ́แข็งแรงkɛ̌ng-rɛɛngและlɛ́หาได้ง่ายhǎa-dâai-ngâai
The craftsman uses bamboo to make a house fence because it’s strong and easy to find.
Mom makes bamboo shoot curry for us to eat during the rainy season.
ชุมชนchum-chonนี้níiสานsǎanตะกร้าdtà-grâaไผ่pàiขายkǎaiสร้างsâangรายได้เสริมraai-dâai-sə̌əmให้hâiครอบครัวkrɔ̂ɔp-kruua
This community weaves bamboo baskets for sale, creating extra income for families.
2Proper nounA2
Phai (given name/nickname)
a Thai given name or nickname for a person
Examples
นี่nîiนี่nîi1this (colloq.)2this; this one (pronoun)3here is…; look/listen (attention-getter)คือkʉʉคือkʉʉ1to be (definition/identification)2namely; that is; i.e.ไผ่pàiไผ่pài1bamboo2Phai (given name/nickname)เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillเป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4[to] have; suffer from; be in (a condition)เพื่อนpʉ̂ʉanเพื่อนpʉ̂ʉan1friend2classmate; colleague (peer)3companion; fellowฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)
This is Phai; he is my friend.
3 more examplesShow less
The teacher called the name Phai to come to the front of the class.
Yesterday, Phai sent a message inviting me to watch a movie.
ไผ่pàiเป็นbpenคนkonใจเย็นjai-yenพอpɔɔมีปัญหาmii-bpan-hǎaก็gɔ̂ช่วยchûuaiประสานงานbprà-sǎan-ngaanให้hâiทุกคนtúk-kon
Phai is a calm person; when problems arise, he helps coordinate for everyone.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh class
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Low tone
pài
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
High 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 | — | — |