ตอน
at (a time)
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 at (a time)、during、when
- 2 time、period、point in time
- 3 part、section、portion、passage
- 4 episode、installment
- 5 section [classifier]、episode [classifier]
- 6 castrate、neuter、air-layer (a plant)
ตอน centers on a bounded segment. It can mark a time such as “at/when,” a part or section of something, or an episode in a series.
at (a time)、during、when
Used before a time, period, or situation to mean “at,” “during,” or “when.”
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ตอนเช้า tɔɔn cháaw in the morning ตอนเช้า details
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ตอนนี้คุณว่างไหม tɔɔn níi khun wâaŋ mǎy Are you free now? ตอนนี้คุณว่างไหม details
time、period、point in time
Refers to a particular point or period of time as one segment in a larger flow.
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ตอนไหน tɔɔn nǎy around when? ตอนไหน details
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ตอนแรกฉันไม่เข้าใจ tɔɔn rɛ̂ɛk chǎn mây khâwcay At first, I didn’t understand. ตอนแรกฉันไม่เข้าใจ details
part、section、portion、passage
Means a part or section divided from a larger whole, such as a passage, section of a road, or portion of a text.
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อ่านตอนนี้อีกครั้ง àan tɔɔn níi iìk khráŋ Read this part again. อ่านตอนนี้อีกครั้ง details
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ตอนท้ายของเรื่อง tɔɔn tháay khɔ̌ɔŋ rʉ̂aŋ the final part of the story ตอนท้ายของเรื่อง details
episode、installment
Refers to one installment in a series, such as an episode of a drama, video series, comic, or book.
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ละครเรื่องนี้มีกี่ตอน lakhɔɔn rʉ̂aŋ níi mii kìi tɔɔn How many episodes does this drama have? ละครเรื่องนี้มีกี่ตอน details
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ดูถึงตอนที่ 5 แล้ว duu thʉ̌ŋ tɔɔn thîi hâa lɛ́ɛw I’ve watched up to episode 5. ดูถึงตอนที่ 5 แล้ว details
Show more (1)
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ตอนหน้า tɔɔn nâa next episode ตอนหน้า details
section [classifier]、episode [classifier]
Used as a classifier for sections, parts, or episodes.
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ซีรีส์นี้มี 10 ตอน siirii níi mii sìp tɔɔn This series has 10 episodes. ซีรีส์นี้มี 10 ตอน details
castrate、neuter、air-layer (a plant)
As a verb, ตอน can mean to neuter or castrate an animal. In gardening, it also means to propagate a plant by air-layering a branch.
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ตอนกิ่งมะม่วง tɔɔn kìŋ mámûaŋ air-layer a mango branch ตอนกิ่งมะม่วง details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of ตอน is a bounded segment within something continuous. With time, it appears in common expressions like ตอนนี้ “now,” ตอนนั้น “then,” ตอนเช้า “in the morning,” and ตอนเด็ก “when one was a child.” In media and stories, it means an episode or installment, as in ตอนที่ 5 “episode 5.” With texts, roads, or explanations, it means a part or section. As a verb, it is not the everyday verb “to cut”; it mainly means to neuter or castrate an animal, or to air-layer a plant in gardening.
Usage
ตอน is very common in everyday speech when talking about times, periods, memories, current situations, and times of day. It is also common when discussing dramas, YouTube series, comics, classes, or podcasts, where it means “episode” or “installment.” In reading and explanations, it is used for parts or sections of a text or story.
Caution
ตอนนี้ usually means “now,” but in the right context it can also mean “this part.” For ordinary “cutting,” use ตัด, not ตอน.
Differences from similar words
1 at (a time) synonyms
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เมื่อ is often used as a conjunction meaning “when,” and can sound more formal or written. ตอน is very natural in speech and works with times of day, life stages, and situations.
2 time synonyms
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ช่วง means a span or period, such as a block of time. ตอน is more conversational and often points to a specific moment, phase, or situation.
3 part synonyms
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ท่อน often refers to a cut-off chunk or segment, such as of a stick, text, or song. ตอน is broader and can cover sections of text, story segments, and time segments.
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ส่วน is the broad general word for “part.” ตอน suggests a divided segment within a sequence or larger whole, especially in texts, stories, roads, and stages.
4 episode synonyms
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ภาค is often used for a larger part or installment, such as a film part or volume. ตอน is usually a smaller episode within a series.
5 section [classifier] synonyms
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บท is commonly used for chapters, lessons, or scripted parts. ตอน counts episodes or divided sections of a larger work.
6 castrate synonyms
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ตัด is the general verb “to cut.” ตอน is not used for ordinary cutting of paper, hair, or meat; it has specialized meanings such as castrating an animal or air-layering a plant.
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ทำหมัน is the general term for sterilizing a person or animal. ตอน is more direct and is especially used for castrating or neutering animals.