3 a.m.
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- 1 3 a.m.、three o’clock in the morning
This is the everyday Thai expression for 3 a.m. (03:00).
3 a.m.、three o’clock in the morning
It refers to the time three o’clock after midnight.
Learning notes
Explanation
ตีสาม is the everyday Thai expression for 3 a.m. It follows the pattern ตี + number, used for the hours after midnight from ตีหนึ่ง (1 a.m.) through ตีห้า (5 a.m.). In this expression, ตี is not understood in its usual sense of “hit”; the whole phrase functions as a time expression. ตอนตีสาม means “at 3 a.m.” In conversation, ตอน is often omitted when the context makes the time relationship clear.
Usage
It is commonly used in conversation and messages when talking about waking up, going to bed, coming home, departing, or anything else happening at 3 a.m.
Caution
Do not use สามโมง for 3 a.m.; it normally means 3 p.m. Use ตีสาม in everyday speech or 03:00 น. in 24-hour notation.