ค่า
cost
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 cost、fee、charge、payment
- 2 value、worth
- 3 value、numerical reading
- 4 [elongated female polite particle]
At its core, ค่า refers to an assigned worth, amount, or numerical value. It is especially common before another word to form expressions meaning “the cost, fee, or charge for something.” In casual writing, it can also be an elongated spelling of the female polite particle ค่ะ.
cost、fee、charge、payment
This sense refers to money paid for goods, services, travel, labor, or other expenses. It commonly appears before another word to form a specific type of fee, charge, or cost.
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ค่าอาหารเท่าไหร่ khâa aahǎan thâw rày How much is the meal? ค่าอาหารเท่าไหร่ details
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บริษัทออกค่าเดินทางให้ bɔɔrisàt ɔ̀ɔk khâa dəən thaaŋ hây The company covers the travel expenses. บริษัทออกค่าเดินทางให้ details
value、worth
This sense describes the worth, importance, or usefulness of a thing, person, experience, or idea. The worth may be financial or something that cannot be measured in money.
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ของที่ไม่มีค่า khɔ̌ɔŋ thîi mây mii khâa a worthless item ของที่ไม่มีค่า details
value、numerical reading
This sense refers to a number obtained through calculation, measurement, or testing, as well as a value assigned to a variable or setting.
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หาค่าเฉลี่ย hǎa khâa chalìa calculate the average หาค่าเฉลี่ย details
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ค่าความดันโลหิตสูงกว่าปกติ khâa khwaam dan loohìt sǔuŋ kwàa pokatì The blood pressure reading is above normal. ค่าความดันโลหิตสูงกว่าปกติ details
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ตั้งค่าอุณหภูมิไว้ที่ 25 องศา tâŋ khâa unhaphuum wáy thîi yîisìp hâa oŋsǎa Set the temperature to 25 degrees. ตั้งค่าอุณหภูมิไว้ที่ 25 องศา details
[elongated female polite particle]
In casual messages, this is an elongated spelling of the female polite particle ค่ะ, often used to sound warm, friendly, or playful.
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รับทราบค่า ráp sâap khâa Got it! รับทราบค่า details
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ขอบคุณค่า khɔ̀ɔpkhun khâa Thank you! ขอบคุณค่า details
Learning notes
Explanation
The noun ค่า has a common underlying idea: something determined by evaluating, pricing, calculating, or measuring. This develops into three major uses—an amount to be paid, the worth of something, and a numerical value. A particularly important everyday pattern is ค่า followed by a noun or verb, creating the name of an expense or charge. For example, ค่าไฟ is an electricity bill, ค่าน้ำ is a water bill, and ค่าอาหาร is the cost of food or a meal. For worth or importance, มีค่า means “to have value” or “to be precious,” while ไม่มีค่า means “to have no value.” The sentence-final ค่า is a separate use. It represents a drawn-out version of the female polite particle ค่ะ and is common in chats and social media.
Usage
ค่า is extremely common when discussing rent, utility bills, fares, meal costs, wages, and other everyday expenses. In มีค่า, it is used to describe people, time, memories, and other things as valuable or precious. In mathematics, medicine, science, and technology, it refers to calculated, measured, or assigned values. Sentence-final ค่า appears mainly in friendly messages written by women.
Caution
ค่า and ราคา are not fully interchangeable. ราคา usually means the listed or established price of an item, whereas ค่า commonly covers fees, service charges, expenses, and compensation. Do not confuse the noun ค่า with the standard female polite particle ค่ะ, the verb ฆ่า (“to kill”), or ข้า (“I” or “servant” in certain styles). Sentence-final ค่า is informal; use the standard spelling ค่ะ in formal or careful writing.
Differences from similar words
1 cost synonyms
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ราคา is the listed or established price of an item. ค่า is broader in this sense and commonly refers to a fee, charge, or expense paid for a service or activity.
3 value synonyms
4 [elongated female polite particle] synonyms
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ค่ะ is the standard female polite particle used in statements and responses. ค่า is an informal, elongated spelling and is unsuitable for formal writing.