ไม่ทัน

mâi-tan

Meanings

1AdverbA2

not in time; too late

occurring too late to meet a time limit, catch something, or do something

Examples

3 more examples
2VerbB1

[to] miss [sth]; fail to be in time (for [sth])

to not arrive or act early enough to catch, attend, or get something (e.g., ไม่ทันรถไฟ ‘miss the train’)

Examples

3 more examples
3VerbB1

[to] not keep up (with [sb]/[sth]); be outpaced

to be unable to match someone’s speed, ability, or progress; to fall behind

Examples

3 more examples
4VerbB1

[to] not get the chance to (do [sth])

used before another verb to mean something happened before one could do it (pattern: ไม่ทันได้ + V / ไม่ทันไม่ทันmâi-tan1not in time; too late2[to] miss [sth]; fail to be in time (for [sth])3[to] not keep up (with [sb]/[sth]); be outpaced4[to] not get the chance to (do [sth])(จะจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3will; would (in conditional results)) V ... ก็ก็gɔ̂1also; too2then; so (sequence/result)3conditional marker (if… then…)4well; after all (emphasis/justification)5topic/resumption marker ...)

Examples

I hadn't even had a chance to say anything before he hung up.
3 more examples

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

  1. Consonant classLow class
  2. Tone markMai ek
  3. Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.

Low class consonants

คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ

Result

Falling tone

mâi

Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.

Low class + Mai ek → Falling

Tone chart

Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.

Mid classHigh classLow class
No mark + liveMidRisingMid
No mark + dead shortLowLowHigh
No mark + dead longLowLowFalling
Mai ekLowLowFalling
Mai thoFallingFallingHigh
Mai triHigh——
Mai chattawaRising——

Word Breakdown

+
ไม่ทันmâi-tanไม่ทันmâi-tannot in time; too latenot in time; too lateWord