บาง

Explanation

The most important use marks an unspecified part of a whole. The basic pattern is บาง + noun, as in บางคน “some people,” บางวัน “on some days,” and บางเรื่อง “some matters.” Repeating บาง can contrast different portions of the same group: “some do one thing, while others do another.” In the sense “thin,” บาง can refer to physical thickness or low density, as in ผมบาง “thinning hair.” In ร่างบาง, it describes a slight or slender build. In place names such as บางกอก and บางนา, บาง does not mean “some” or “thin.” It preserves an older noun sense associated with a small waterway or a settlement near one.

Usage

It is extremely common when saying that something applies to only part of a group rather than to everyone or everything. It is useful for describing variation among people, days, places, or situations. It also describes the thinness of clothing, paper, or books, the sparseness of hair or clouds, and a slender build. The noun sense is most often encountered in addresses and the names of districts, stations, and destinations.

Caution

Do not confuse บาง with บ้าง. บาง normally comes before a noun, as in บางคน “some people.” บ้าง commonly follows a verb or appears in questions, as in ทำอะไรบ้าง “What do you do?” or “What did you do?” Also, บาง is not the natural word for every kind of “thin” or “light.” จาง is often used for diluted flavors, faint smells, weak colors, or low concentration, while อ่อน may be used for light shades.

2 thin synonyms

• จาง

  caaŋ pale

  จาง means faint, diluted, or weak in color, flavor, smell, or concentration. บาง usually refers to physical thinness or low density, as with fabric or hair.

• ผอม

  phɔ̌ɔm thin

  ผอม directly means thin or underweight when describing a person or animal. บาง, as in ร่างบาง, presents the build as slight or slender.