ไฟแดง
fai-dɛɛngMeanings
1NounA2
red traffic light
A red signal at an intersection indicating vehicles must stop.
Examples
เห็นhěnเห็นhěn1[to] see2[to] notice; [to] realize; [to] find (that)3[to] think; [to] be of the opinion4[to] consider; [to] regard asไฟแดงfai-dɛɛngไฟแดงfai-dɛɛng1red traffic light2menstruation; period3[to] hit a red lightแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)หยุดyùtหยุดyùt1[to] stop; halt2[to] take time off; be off work or schoolรถrótรถrót1vehicle (general)2car; automobileทันทีtan-tiiทันทีtan-tiiimmediately; at once
When you see the red light, stop the car immediately.
3 more examplesShow less
This morning I got stuck at red lights at many intersections, so I was late for work.
ถ้าtâaไฟแดงfai-dɛɛngกระพริบgrà-prípเจ้าหน้าที่jâao-nâa-tîiจะjàโบกรถbòok-rótให้hâiหยุดyùtก่อนgɔ̀ɔnข้ามkâamทางม้าลายtaang-máa-laai
If the red light is flashing, an officer will signal cars to stop before the crosswalk.
He was fined for running a red light at a downtown intersection.
2NounB1
menstruation; period
Colloquial euphemism for menstruation.
Examples
วันนี้wan-níiวันนี้wan-níi1today (time of speech)2today; this day3nowadays; at presentขอkɔ̌ɔขอkɔ̌ɔ1[to] request; ask for [sth]2polite request marker3[to] beg; plead4[to] wish for; pray forไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)ว่ายน้ำwâai-náamว่ายน้ำwâai-náam[to] swimได้ไหมdâai-mǎiได้ไหมdâai-mǎi1is it possible/allowed?; OK?2could you ... ? (request softener)เราraoเราrao1we; us2I; me (informal/regional)ไฟแดงfai-dɛɛngไฟแดงfai-dɛɛng1red traffic light2menstruation; period3[to] hit a red lightอยู่yùuอยู่yùu1[to] live; reside; stay2to be (located); be at3progressive/continuative marker4to exist; remain
Can we skip swimming today? I’m on my period.
3 more examplesShow less
She said she had cramps because she's on her period, so she asked to rest.
พรุ่งนี้prûng-níiไม่mâiสะดวกsà-dùuakไปbpaiปีนเขาbpiin-kǎoเราraoเพิ่งpə̂ngไฟแดงfai-dɛɛngวันแรกwan-rɛ̂ɛk
I can’t go hiking tomorrow; I just started my period today.
ช่วงchûuangไฟแดงfai-dɛɛngฉันchǎnจะjàพกpókถุงtǔngน้ำร้อนnáam-rɔ́ɔnและlɛ́เลือกlʉ̂ʉakรองพื้นrɔɔng-pʉ́ʉnสีsǐiอ่อนɔ̀ɔnเพราะprɔ́หน้าnâaมักmákซีดsîitและlɛ́ปวดหน่วงbpùuat-nùuangท้องน้อยtɔ́ɔng-nɔ́ɔi
During my period I carry a hot pack and choose lighter foundation, because my face tends to look pale and I have lower abdominal pain.
3VerbB1
[to] hit a red light
To be stopped by or delayed because of a red traffic signal; also used figuratively for a sudden stop.
Examples
ผมpǒmผมpǒm1I; me (male speaker, polite)2hair (on the head)มาmaaมาmaa1[to] come; arrive2[to] come to (a state or situation)3past/as of now aspect markerสายsǎaiสายsǎai1late (in the day); running late2morning (late morning period)3line; wire; cable4route; line (transport/communication)5classifier for long, flexible things (wires, ropes, necklaces)6informant; spy; secret agent7phone call8string; strap; band9lineage; affiliation; branch10classifier for rivers and streamsเพราะprɔ́เพราะprɔ́1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingติดไฟแดงdtìt-fai-dɛɛngติดไฟแดงdtìt-fai-dɛɛng[to] be stuck at a red lightหลายlǎaiหลายlǎai1many; several2very; very much; a lot (Isan)แยกyɛ̂ɛkแยกyɛ̂ɛk1[to] separate; split; divide2junction; intersection3[to] distinguish; tell apart4separate; distinct; individual5[to] branch off
I was late because I got stuck at multiple red lights.
3 more examplesShow less
The bus was behind schedule because the red lights were long during the morning.
เราraoกำลังจะgam-lang-jàทันรถไฟtan-rót-faiแต่dtɛ̀ɛไปเจอbpai-jəəไฟแดงfai-dɛɛngพอดีเลยpɔɔ-dii-ləəiต้องdtɔ̂ngพลาดplâat
We were about to catch the train, but we hit a red light and missed it.
โครงการkroong-gaanลงทุนlong-tunต้องdtɔ̂ngชะงักchá-ngákเหมือนmʉ̌ʉanเจอjəəไฟแดงfai-dɛɛngหลังlǎngคณะกรรมการká-ná-gam-má-gaanขอทบทวนkɔ̌ɔ-tóp-tuuanความเสี่ยงkwaam-sìiangใหม่mài
The investment project came to a halt, like hitting a red light, after the committee requested a risk review.
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 classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel ไ hides a final -ย, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
fai
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 | — | — |
Word Breakdown
ไฟfaiไฟfai1fire; flame2electricity; power3light (from a lamp)4signal light; indicator5anger; passion (figurative)fire; flamePart 1
+
แดงdɛɛngแดงdɛɛng1red (color)2red color3[to] turn red; blush4[to] be exposed; come to light5red-shirt (Thai politics)red (color)Part 2
ไฟแดงfai-dɛɛngไฟแดงfai-dɛɛngred traffic lightred traffic lightWord