grain of rice
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 grain of rice、rice seed
This word refers to an individual grain of rice, focusing on the rice as a distinct kernel rather than rice as a food or crop in general.
grain of rice、rice seed
An individual grain or kernel of rice, which may also be viewed as a seed in a cultivation context.
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เมล็ดข้าวหนึ่งเมล็ด malét khâaw nʉ̀ŋ málét one grain of rice เมล็ดข้าวหนึ่งเมล็ด details
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ชาวนาหว่านเมล็ดข้าวในนา chaaw naa wàan malét khâaw nay naa The farmer sows rice seeds in the field. ชาวนาหว่านเมล็ดข้าวในนา details
Learning notes
Explanation
The expression is formed from เมล็ด, meaning “seed” or “kernel,” and ข้าว, meaning “rice” or “rice plant.” It presents rice as individual grains. Unlike ข้าว, which can broadly refer to the crop, uncooked rice, or cooked rice, เมล็ดข้าว draws attention to each grain’s shape, size, color, or quality. In farming contexts, the grain may be understood specifically as a seed that can germinate. เมล็ด is also used as the classifier, as in เมล็ดข้าวหนึ่งเมล็ด, “one grain of rice.”
Usage
It is used when discussing the shape, color, size, or quality of rice grains, including in milling and food inspection. In agriculture, it can also appear when talking about sowing or germination.
Caution
เมล็ดข้าว does not always specify whether the grain is unhusked, milled and uncooked, or cooked. When that distinction matters, use a more specific term such as ข้าวเปลือก for unhusked rice, ข้าวสาร for milled uncooked rice, or ข้าวสุก for cooked rice. Use ข้าว, rather than เมล็ดข้าว, for rice as a serving or meal.