ทบ
fold back
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 fold back、double over
- 2 fold; layer [classifier]
- 3 add to、compound、carry forward (an amount)
This word describes folding something back over itself or adding an amount to what is already there. It also serves as a classifier for folds or layers.
fold back、double over
To fold something back so that one part lies over another.
-
ทบชายผ้าขึ้น thóp chaay phâa khʉ̂n Fold the edge of the cloth up. ทบชายผ้าขึ้น details
-
เอาเชือกมาทบกันสามทบ aw chʉ̂ak maa thóp kan sǎam thóp Fold the rope into three layers. เอาเชือกมาทบกันสามทบ details
fold; layer [classifier]
A classifier indicating the number of folds or overlapping layers.
-
ด้ายสองทบ dâay sɔ̌ɔŋ thóp two-ply thread ด้ายสองทบ details
-
ผ้าสองทบ phâa sɔ̌ɔŋ thóp cloth folded into two layers ผ้าสองทบ details
add to、compound、carry forward (an amount)
To add an amount to an existing total, especially so that it continues to accumulate.
-
คิดดอกเบี้ยแบบทบต้น khít dɔ̀ɔk bîa bɛ̀ɛp thóp tôn Calculate interest on a compound basis. คิดดอกเบี้ยแบบทบต้น details
-
ทบยอดไปเดือนหน้า thóp yɔ̂ɔt pay dʉan nâa Carry the amount forward to next month. ทบยอดไปเดือนหน้า details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image of ทบ is placing something back over what is already there. In its physical sense, it describes folding part of a material over another part. The more general verb for “fold” is พับ; ทบ, or the combination พับทบ, draws attention to the resulting overlap. The same image extends to calculations: an amount, such as interest, is added to an existing total. A particularly useful expression is ดอกเบี้ยทบต้น, “compound interest.” After a number, ทบ can also classify folds or overlapping thicknesses, as in ด้ายสองทบ, “two-ply thread.”
Usage
It is used when folding back cloth, garment edges, thread, or parts of the body. In finance and accounting, it appears in discussions of compound interest and balances carried forward. As a classifier, it indicates how many folds or overlapping thicknesses something has.
Caution
For the general action of folding, พับ is more widely applicable. ทบ does not by itself mean “double” in every numerical context; เพิ่มเป็นสองเท่า is clearer when something simply increases twofold. In news and official contexts, ทบ. is an abbreviation for กองทัพบก, “the army.” This is separate from the ordinary verb and classifier and is normally written with a period.
Differences from similar words
1 fold back synonyms
-
พับ is the general verb for folding something. ทบ more specifically suggests folding one part back over another.
2 fold; layer [classifier] synonyms
-
ชั้น broadly counts layers, levels, or floors. ทบ counts overlapping thicknesses produced by folding or doubling material.
3 add to synonyms
-
สะสม means to collect or accumulate something over time. ทบ focuses on adding to an existing total or carrying that total into a later calculation.
-
เพิ่ม is the general word for increasing an amount. ทบ emphasizes adding something to an existing amount so that it accumulates.