ฝาย
weir
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 weir、small dam
- 2 [classifier for weirs and small dams]
This word mainly refers to a low barrier built across a stream or channel to raise the water level or slow the flow. It can also serve as a classifier for such structures.
weir、small dam
A relatively small barrier built across a stream or channel to raise the water level, divert water for irrigation, or slow the current.
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สร้างฝายกั้นน้ำ sâaŋ fǎay kân náam build a weir to hold back water สร้างฝายกั้นน้ำ details
[classifier for weirs and small dams]
A classifier used when counting weirs or small dams.
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ฝายสองฝาย fǎay sɔ̌ɔŋ fǎay two weirs ฝายสองฝาย details
Learning notes
Explanation
ฝาย primarily means a weir: a barrier built across flowing water. Rather than forming a large reservoir, it commonly raises the water level for irrigation or slows the current. It may be made of stone, wood, or concrete, and water can often flow over its top. Because ฝาย names the structure rather than the action, verbs such as สร้าง or ทำ are used to say “build a weir.” ฝาย can itself be used as the classifier when counting weirs. The general classifier แห่ง may also be used when they are viewed as facilities or sites.
Usage
It commonly appears in discussions of irrigation, farming, stream management, and forest conservation. It is especially frequent when describing small barriers built in rural or mountainous waterways, including in news and government communications.
Caution
For a large dam used for major water storage or power generation, เขื่อน is normally more appropriate. Do not confuse ฝาย with ฝ่าย (“side, faction, department”) or ฝ้าย (“cotton”); their spelling and meanings are different.
Differences from similar words
1 weir synonyms
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เขื่อน generally refers to a large dam used for storing water or generating electricity. ฝาย is usually a lower, smaller structure used to regulate or divert flowing water.