ไว้หน้า
wái-nâaMeaning
1VerbB2
[to] let [sb] save face; [to] go easy on [sb]
to avoid embarrassing someone and be lenient with them so they keep their dignity or reputation; to let someone save face.
Examples
ถึงจะtʉ̌ng-jàถึงจะtʉ̌ng-jà1only if; only when; not until2even if; even though; although (often with ก็)รู้rúuรู้rúu1[to] know; be aware of2[to] realize; find out; learn3[to] know how; know the proper way to act4[to] feel; sense; perceiveว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticizeเขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillพูดผิดpûut-pìtพูดผิดpûut-pìt[to] misspeak; [to] say [sth] wrongแต่dtɛ̀ɛแต่dtɛ̀ɛ1but; however (contrast)2only; just (restriction)3from; since (starting point)ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)3like; as (in the manner of)ก็gɔ̂ก็gɔ̂1also; too2then; so (sequence/result)3conditional marker (if… then…)4well; after all (emphasis/justification)5topic/resumption markerเงียบngîiapเงียบngîiap1quiet; silent2quiet (place/time)3[to] be quiet; fall silent4[to] go silent; stop respondingไว้wáiไว้wái1[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.)เพื่อpʉ̂ʉaเพื่อpʉ̂ʉa1for; in order to2for the sake of; on behalf ofไว้หน้าwái-nâaไว้หน้าwái-nâa[to] let [sb] save face; [to] go easy on [sb]เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillในnaiในnai1in; inside; within2during; in (time)3of; belonging to (formal)ที่ประชุมtîi-bprà-chumที่ประชุมtîi-bprà-chum1meeting; conference (event)2meeting venue/room3the assembly; the body
Even though I knew he was wrong, I kept quiet to let him save face in the meeting.
3 more examplesShow less
หัวหน้าhǔua-nâaเลือกlʉ̂ʉakที่จะtîi-jàตำหนิdtam-nìลูกน้องlûuk-nɔ́ɔngเป็นการส่วนตัวbpen-gaan-sùuan-dtuuaเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaเป็นbpenการgaanไว้หน้าwái-nâaเขาkǎo
The boss chose to reprimand the subordinate privately in order to let him save face.
ที่tîiฉันchǎnไม่mâiเถียงtǐiangต่อdtɔ̀ɔไม่ใช่mâi-châiเพราะprɔ́ยอมแพ้yɔɔm-pɛ́ɛแต่dtɛ̀ɛเป็นbpenการgaanไว้หน้าwái-nâaผู้ใหญ่pûu-yàiที่อยู่tîi-yùuตรงนั้นdtrong-nánด้วยdûuai
The reason I didn't argue further wasn't because I gave up, but to be lenient and let the elder there save face.
บางครั้งbaang-krángการตัดสินใจgaan-dtàt-sǐn-jaiของkɔ̌ɔngผู้นำpûu-namก็gɔ̂ต้องdtɔ̂ngคำนึงถึงkam-nʉng-tʉ̌ngการgaanไว้หน้าwái-nâaฝ่ายตรงข้ามfàai-dtrong-kâamเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaรักษาrák-sǎaความสัมพันธ์kwaam-sǎm-pan
Sometimes, a leader's decision must consider letting the opposing side save face in order to maintain the relationship.
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 markMai tho
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
High tone
wái
Starts high and keeps climbing.
Low class + Mai tho → High
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
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.)[to] keep; save; storePart 1
+
ไว้หน้าwái-nâaไว้หน้าwái-nâa[to] let [sb] save face; [to] go easy on [sb][to] let [sb] save face; [to] go easy on [sb]Word