ไม้บรรทัด
ruler
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- 1 ruler、straightedge
This is the everyday Thai word for the straight, narrow tool used to measure length or draw straight lines.
ruler、straightedge
A ruler or straightedge used for measuring length and drawing straight lines.
Learning notes
Explanation
ไม้บรรทัด is the ordinary Thai noun for a ruler used at school, in an office, or for crafts. It can refer both to a marked ruler for measuring and to a straightedge used to draw lines. The first element, ไม้, originally means “wood” and can also suggest a stick-shaped object. Despite this origin, a ไม้บรรทัด does not have to be wooden; the same word is used for plastic and metal rulers. The classifiers อัน and เล่ม are both used. อัน is a convenient general classifier in everyday speech.
Usage
It is commonly used in schoolwork, drafting, crafts, sewing, and office tasks when measuring something or drawing a straight line. You will also hear it when borrowing stationery or shopping for a ruler.
Caution
บรรทัด by itself usually means a line of written or printed text; use ไม้บรรทัด for the stationery item. Flexible measuring tapes and retractable tape measures are normally called สายวัด and ตลับเมตร, respectively.