เบา
light
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 light、low (volume)、mild、not burdensome
- 2 softly、gently、lightly、quietly
- 3 slow down、reduce speed、decelerate
- 4 urinate、pee
เบา means that something is light, low, mild, gentle, or reduced in force or burden. It is used for physical weight, volume, severity, gentle actions, and things becoming easier or less intense.
light、low (volume)、mild、not burdensome
Describes something as not heavy, not loud, not strong, mild, or not burdensome, depending on what it modifies.
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กระเป๋าใบนี้เบา krapǎw bay níi baw This bag is light. กระเป๋าใบนี้เบา details
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เสียงเบา sǐaŋ baw a low voice / low volume เสียงเบา details
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อาการเบา aakaan baw The symptoms are mild. อาการเบา details
softly、gently、lightly、quietly
Means doing an action softly, gently, lightly, or quietly. The repeated form เบา ๆ is especially common.
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พูดเบา ๆ หน่อย phûut baw baw nɔ̀ɔy Please speak a little more quietly. พูดเบา ๆ หน่อย details
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จับเบา ๆ càp baw baw Hold it gently. จับเบา ๆ details
slow down、reduce speed、decelerate
Means to slow down or reduce speed or engine power, especially with vehicles or machines.
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เบาเครื่อง baw khrʉ̂aŋ slow the engine / slow down เบาเครื่อง details
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เบาแอร์ baw ɛɛ Turn down the air conditioning. เบาแอร์ details
urinate、pee
Can be used euphemistically or casually to mean to urinate, especially in set expressions. Learners should also know ปัสสาวะ and ฉี่.
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ปวดเบา pùat baw to need to pee ปวดเบา details
Learning notes
Explanation
เบา often contrasts with หนัก, which means heavy, severe, or strong. The natural English translation changes with the noun: กระเป๋าเบา is “a light bag,” เสียงเบา is “low volume,” อาการเบา is “mild symptoms,” and งานเบา is “light work” or “not much work.” In conversation, เบา ๆ is very useful for asking someone to do something gently, lightly, or quietly.
Usage
It is common in everyday situations: talking about weight while shopping, asking someone to lower their voice or volume, describing mild illness or injury, talking about workload, or telling someone to handle something gently.
Caution
Do not map every use of “light” directly to เบา. It is not the usual word for “frivolous” or “careless” in personality or attitude. Also, เสียงเบา means “quiet” or “low in volume,” not “a light voice.”
Differences from similar words
1 light synonyms
2 softly synonyms
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ค่อย ๆ suggests doing something slowly, gradually, or gently, while เบา ๆ mainly means using less force or making less sound.
3 slow down synonyms
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ชะลอ is a clear general verb for slowing down. เบา is more about easing off power or force, often with an engine or momentum.
4 urinate synonyms
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ฉี่ is the common everyday word for pee. เบา sounds less direct and more euphemistic.
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ปัสสาวะ is a polite or medical word for urinating. เบา is more euphemistic and casual, and often appears in fixed expressions.