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Thai

ทัพพี

Pronunciation

thápphii

ทัพพี

thápphii

serving spoon

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  1. 1 serving spoon、rice paddle、ladle
  2. 2 scoopful、rice-paddleful

This word refers to a large spoon-like utensil used to scoop and serve rice or other cooked food. It can also describe the approximate amount held in one scoop.

1

serving spoon、rice paddle、ladle

Noun⭐️3 Common Loanword

A large spoon-like kitchen utensil used for scooping and serving cooked rice, curry, or other food.

2

scoopful、rice-paddleful

Classifier⭐️2 Not often used

An approximate serving equal to one scoop with a rice paddle or serving spoon, commonly used when talking about portions of rice.

Learning notes

Explanation

The central meaning is a large utensil used to scoop and serve rice or other cooked food. It is not limited to a flat rice paddle; it can also be a long-handled serving spoon. When counting the utensils themselves, classifiers such as คัน, เล่ม, or อัน may be used. When describing a portion, as in ข้าวสองทัพพี (“two scoops of rice”), ทัพพี functions as the measure, so no additional classifier is needed. The word also appears in the proverb ทัพพีไม่รู้รสแกง, literally “the serving spoon does not know the taste of the curry.” It describes someone who is constantly exposed to knowledge or something valuable but fails to appreciate or understand it.

Usage

It is an everyday kitchen and dining word used when serving rice or cooked dishes from a pot or rice cooker. It is also used to describe portions informally, especially the number of scoops of rice.

Caution

Choose the English translation according to the utensil’s shape and use: “rice paddle,” “serving spoon,” or sometimes “ladle.” For a deep ladle or dipper used specifically for liquids, กระบวย is more precise. A ทัพพี used as a portion is only an approximate scoop, not a standardized measurement.

Differences from similar words

1 serving spoon synonyms

  • กระบวย is a deep-bowled ladle or dipper mainly used for liquids. ทัพพี is broader and can also refer to a rice paddle or a large serving spoon for cooked food.

  • ช้อนตักข้าว literally describes a spoon used to serve rice. ทัพพี is the established utensil name and may also refer to a serving utensil used for other cooked dishes.

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