ไหวๆ
wăi wăiMeaning
1AdverbB2
swaying gently; flickering; fluttering
moving slightly and repeatedly; swaying gently; flickering or fluttering (often used to describe leaves, shadows, or lights)
Examples
ใบไม้bai máaiใบไม้bai máaileaf; leaves; foliageไหวๆwăi wăiไหวๆwăi wăiswaying gently; flickering; flutteringตามdtaamตามdtaam1[to] follow; go after2according to; in accordance with3after; behind; in pursuit of4[to] comply with; abide by; obey5along; along (a path); following (direction)6[to] send for; fetch [sb]7[to] light; kindle (literary)ลมlomลมlom1wind2gas; flatulence3air (breath); life-force (traditional)4nonsense; empty talk (fig.)อ่อนๆòn ònอ่อนๆòn òn1soft; mild; light; pale2slightly; gently; mildlyขณะที่kà-nà têeขณะที่kà-nà têe1while; at the time that2whereas; in contrastเราraoเราrao1we; us2I; me (informal/regional)นั่งคุยกันnâng kui ganนั่งคุยกันnâng kui gan[to] sit and chat togetherใต้dtâiใต้dtâi1under; beneath; below2south (direction)3southern region; the South4south; southern5under; subject to (authority/rules)ต้นไม้dtôn máaiต้นไม้dtôn máai1tree2plants/greenery (general, esp. woody plants)
The leaves swayed gently in the breeze as we sat chatting under the tree.
3 more examplesShow less
The curtain by the window fluttered gently because I had left the fan on.
เงาngaoของkŏngกิ่งไม้gìng máaiไหวๆwăi wăiบนbonผนังpà-năngห้องhôngทำให้tam hâiฉันchănเผลอplĕrนึกว่าnéuk wâaมีmeeคนkonเดินผ่านdern pàanหน้าต่างnâa dtàang
The shadows of the branches shifted gently on the wall, making me briefly think someone was walking past the window.
แม้máeหน้าต่างnâa dtàangจะjàปิดbpìtเกือบgèuapสนิทsà-nìtแต่dtàeเปลวเทียนbpleo tiianก็gâwยังyangไหวๆwăi wăiตามกระแสdtaam grà-săeลมlomที่têeลอดผ่านlôt pàanช่องchâwngเล็กๆlék lékเข้ามาkâo maa
Although the window was almost completely closed, the candle flame still flickered in the draft coming through a small gap.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is ไหวๆ said ไหว-ไหว?
wăi wăi
Thai spelling does not always show how a word sounds. This is how it is said.
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh classLeading หA silent ห before ว puts this syllable in high class.
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel ไ hides a final -ย, so it is live.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Rising tone
wăi
Dips low first, then rises clearly.
High class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Rising
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 | — | — |