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Thai

น้ำดี

Components

น้ำ
ดี

Pronunciation

náam dii

น้ำดี

náam dii

bile

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  1. 1 bile
  2. 2 high-quality、worthwhile、respectable
  3. 3 clean water、soft water (for washing)

This word primarily means bile. In technical water systems it can mean clean or usable water, and after certain nouns it describes a person or work as worthwhile, respectable, or high-quality.

2

high-quality、worthwhile、respectable

Adjective⭐️3 Common Casual

Describes certain people or works as respectable, worthwhile, or beneficial in quality and content.

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3

clean water、soft water (for washing)

Noun⭐️2 Not often used

In plumbing and water-management contexts, water that is clean or usable, as opposed to wastewater.

Learning notes

Explanation

Its central dictionary meaning is “bile,” and learners should memorize น้ำดี as a single anatomical term. The related word ถุงน้ำดี means “gallbladder.” Because น้ำ means “water or liquid” and ดี means “good,” the term can also refer to non-wastewater in technical plumbing or water-management contexts. After certain nouns, as in นักการเมืองน้ำดี or ละครน้ำดี, it gives a favorable evaluation involving integrity, wholesome content, or social value. It is not a freely interchangeable adjective for anything that is merely good.

Usage

The bile sense appears in medical consultations, health information, and biology, especially in ถุงน้ำดี “gallbladder” and นิ่วในถุงน้ำดี “gallstones.” The water sense occurs in plumbing, building systems, and water management. The evaluative use is found when discussing politicians, films, dramas, and similar subjects.

Caution

Do not normally use น้ำดี for drinking water, generally clean water, or fresh water; use น้ำดื่ม, น้ำสะอาด, or น้ำจืด respectively. Its evaluative use does not simply mean “a nice person”; คนดี is the usual expression for a good person.

Differences from similar words

2 high-quality synonyms

  • คุณภาพดี directly means “good in quality” and applies broadly to products and services. น้ำดี has more restricted collocations and may praise a work's social value or a person's integrity as well as overall quality.

3 clean water synonyms

Component words

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