ต่ำ
low
Native recording
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- 1 low、below standard、lower-ranking
- 2 base、despicable、ignoble
Describes something as being below a normal, expected, or compared level in height, position, amount, degree, or quality. When applied to a person's character or behavior, it strongly condemns it as base or despicable.
low、below standard、lower-ranking
Describes a position, value, degree, quality, or rank as being below a reference point, standard, or expected level.
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เครื่องบินบินต่ำ khrʉ̂aŋ bin bin tàm The airplane is flying low. เครื่องบินบินต่ำ details
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วันนี้อุณหภูมิต่ำ wan níi unhaphuum tàm The temperature is low today. วันนี้อุณหภูมิต่ำ details
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สินค้านี้คุณภาพต่ำ sǐn kháa níi khunnaphâap tàm This product is of low quality. สินค้านี้คุณภาพต่ำ details
base、despicable、ignoble
Strongly condemns a person's thoughts, character, or behavior as morally base or despicable.
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อย่าทำตัวต่ำแบบนั้น yàa tham tua tàm bɛ̀ɛp nán Don't behave so despicably. อย่าทำตัวต่ำแบบนั้น details
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เป็นความคิดที่ต่ำมาก pen khwaam khít thîi tàm mâak It is an extremely base-minded idea. เป็นความคิดที่ต่ำมาก details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of ต่ำ is being below a reference point, normal level, standard, or comparison. It applies not only to physical height and position but also to measurable values, degrees, and quality: ราคาต่ำ “a low price,” คะแนนต่ำ “a low score,” คุณภาพต่ำ “low quality,” and เสียงต่ำ “a low-pitched sound.” When modifying a noun, ต่ำ normally follows it. ต่ำลง expresses a change to a lower level, meaning “become lower” or “go down.” It can also describe how or where an action occurs, as in บินต่ำ, “fly low.” With thoughts, character, or behavior, ต่ำ shifts from neutral description to strong moral condemnation, suggesting that someone is base or despicable. Some dictionaries record an old use meaning “to weave on a loom,” but it is not included here because it is not useful for ordinary modern Thai learners.
Usage
Commonly used for the height of furniture or structures, flight altitude, temperature, prices, income, scores, and pitch. It also frequently appears in news, statistics, business, and education when discussing low standards, quality, rank, or risk. In its moral sense, it is used when strongly criticizing someone's thoughts, character, or behavior.
Caution
Do not normally use ต่ำ for a person's short stature; use เตี้ย instead, as in เขาเตี้ย. Calling someone คนต่ำ or saying ทำตัวต่ำ can be highly insulting. It is generally clearer and safer to specify what is being criticized, as in จิตใจต่ำ for a base character or พฤติกรรมต่ำ for despicable behavior.
Differences from similar words
1 low synonyms
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น้อย means small or few in quantity. ต่ำ describes a value or level—such as temperature, price, or a score—as low on a scale.
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ล่าง identifies the lower part or a location below something. ต่ำ describes something as low relative to a reference point or standard.
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เตี้ย describes a person as short or an object as low in physical height. ต่ำ has a broader range, covering position as well as values, degrees, standards, and quality.
2 base synonyms
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ต่ำช้า explicitly means vile or thoroughly despicable and is strongly condemnatory. ต่ำ can also be insulting in reference to character or behavior, but by itself it commonly has the neutral meaning “low.”
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เลว broadly describes a person, quality, or action as bad or wicked. ต่ำ specifically evokes moral or personal baseness, as though the person's standards were low.