ยาม
time
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 time、period、occasion
- 2 watch [traditional three-hour division of the night]
- 3 guard duty、watch
- 4 security guard、sentry
This word centers on a set or marked period of time. It can refer to a particular time or occasion, a traditional division of the night, a guard shift, or the guard on duty. In literary language, it can also mean “when.”
time、period、occasion
A particular time, period, or occasion, often specified by a following word describing the time or situation.
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ยามเช้าอากาศสดชื่น yaam cháaw aakàat sòt chʉ̂ʉn The air is refreshing in the morning. ยามเช้าอากาศสดชื่น details
watch [traditional three-hour division of the night]
In a traditional system, one of four three-hour watches dividing the night from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
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ยามสุดท้ายเริ่มตั้งแต่ตีสาม yaam sùt tháay rə̂əm tâŋ tɛ̀ɛ tii sǎam The final watch begins at 3 a.m. ยามสุดท้ายเริ่มตั้งแต่ตีสาม details
guard duty、watch
A scheduled watch or guard duty during which someone is responsible for keeping watch.
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คืนนี้ผมอยู่ยาม khʉʉn níi phǒm yùu yaam I’m on guard duty tonight. คืนนี้ผมอยู่ยาม details
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ทหารผลัดกันเข้าเวรยาม thahǎan phlàt kan khâw ween yaam The soldiers take turns going on guard duty. ทหารผลัดกันเข้าเวรยาม details
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ต้องเฝ้ายามตลอดคืน tɔ̂ŋ fâw yaam talɔ̀ɔt khʉʉn We have to keep watch all night. ต้องเฝ้ายามตลอดคืน details
security guard、sentry
An everyday term for a person who guards a building, gate, parking area, or other location.
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image is a distinct or marked period of time, as in ยามเช้า “in the morning,” ยามยาก “in difficult times,” and ยามจำเป็น “when needed.” In the requested traditional division of the night, there are four watches: • ยามที่ 1 or ยามหนึ่ง: 6–9 p.m. • ยามที่ 2: 9 p.m.–midnight; as a clock expression, สองยาม means exactly midnight • ยามที่ 3 or ยามสาม: midnight–3 a.m. • ยามที่ 4, ยามสี่, or ยามสุดท้าย: 3–6 a.m. In guard-related expressions, อยู่ยาม means “be on guard duty,” เฝ้ายาม means “keep watch,” and เวรยาม means “guard duty.” ยาม can also refer to the guard as a person; the classifier for a guard is คน. When placed before an event or clause, ยาม can mean “when,” especially in literature, songs, speeches, and sayings.
Usage
In everyday language, ยาม commonly appears in phrases referring to a particular time or situation, such as ยามเช้า, ยามจำเป็น, and ยามลำบาก. It is also a common everyday word for a guard at a housing estate, office, gate, or parking area. Military, police, and overnight-duty contexts use it for keeping watch. Historical narratives may use it for traditional night watches, while literature and songs use it to introduce an event with the meaning “when.”
Caution
The traditional watches are not the normal way to tell time today. In ordinary conversation, speakers use expressions such as สามทุ่ม “9 p.m.,” เที่ยงคืน “midnight,” and ตีสาม “3 a.m.” As a traditional time expression, สองยาม means exactly midnight, not simply “two watches.” For a formal job title, เจ้าหน้าที่รักษาความปลอดภัย or its abbreviation รปภ. is preferred. Using clause-initial ยาม repeatedly in casual conversation may sound literary or theatrical.