รดน้ำ
water (plants, a lawn, or a garden)
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 water (plants, a lawn, or a garden)
- 2 pour water over someone’s hands [as part of a ceremony]
This verb describes watering plants or pouring water over someone’s hands as part of a traditional ceremony.
water (plants, a lawn, or a garden)
It means applying water to plants, lawns, or soil to keep them moist.
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ฉันรดน้ำต้นไม้เช้าเย็น chǎn rót náam tônmáay cháaw yen I water the plants every morning and evening. ฉันรดน้ำต้นไม้เช้าเย็น details
pour water over someone’s hands [as part of a ceremony]
It refers to ceremonially pouring water over someone’s hands to show respect or offer blessings.
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พิธีรดน้ำสังข์จะเริ่มขึ้นตอนเช้า phíthii rót náam sǎŋ cà rə̂əm khʉ̂n tɔɔn cháaw The wedding water-pouring ceremony will begin in the morning. พิธีรดน้ำสังข์จะเริ่มขึ้นตอนเช้า details
Learning notes
Explanation
รด describes pouring or sprinkling liquid onto something, and น้ำ means water. In everyday use, รดน้ำ most often refers to watering plants. It can describe watering with a can, a hose, or another tool. The thing being watered normally follows directly: รดน้ำต้นไม้ means “water the plants,” and รดน้ำสนามหญ้า means “water the lawn.” ต้นไม้ can refer to plants in general, including potted plants. The object can be omitted when it is clear from context. The ceremonial use is also current and common. It appears in Songkran traditions honoring elders and in wedding ceremonies where water is poured over the couple’s hands.
Usage
Use it when discussing care for houseplants, gardens, or vegetable plots. ช่วยรดน้ำต้นไม้ให้หน่อย is a natural way to ask, “Could you water the plants?” You will also encounter it in descriptions of Songkran traditions and Thai wedding ceremonies.
Caution
Do not normally use รดน้ำ for giving a person or animal drinking water; use ให้น้ำ instead. รดน้ำผัก means watering growing vegetables, while ล้างผัก means washing vegetables. For splashing or throwing water during Songkran, สาดน้ำ is more appropriate. เล่นน้ำ describes playing in or with water.