ไม้
tree
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 tree、plant
- 2 wood、wooden
- 3 stick、skewer、stick-like implement、racket, club, or bat
- 4 mark [in the name of a writing symbol]
- 5 skewer [classifier for skewered food]、piece [classifier for certain stick-like objects]
This word centers on trees and wood, with extended uses for sticks, skewers, and long-handled implements. It also appears in the names of Thai writing marks and serves as a classifier for skewered items and certain stick-like objects.
tree、plant
Refers to a tree or plant, especially as part of words that identify or classify types of plants. ต้นไม้ is the usual everyday term for an individual tree.
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ปลูกต้นไม้ plùuk tôn máay plant a tree ปลูกต้นไม้ details
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ต้นไม้สองต้น tôn máay sɔ̌ɔŋ tôn two trees ต้นไม้สองต้น details
wood、wooden
Refers to wood as a material used for furniture, buildings, boards, and other products. After another noun, it commonly indicates that the item is wooden.
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โต๊ะทำจากไม้ tó tham càak máay The table is made of wood. โต๊ะทำจากไม้ details
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บ้านไม้ bâan máay a wooden house บ้านไม้ details
stick、skewer、stick-like implement、racket, club, or bat
Refers to a stick, skewer, or a stick-like implement such as a racket, club, cue, or cane. The particular object is usually identified by a word following ไม้.
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ถือไม้ thʉ̌ʉ máay hold a stick ถือไม้ details
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ไม้จิ้มฟัน máay cîm fan toothpick ไม้จิ้มฟัน details
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ไม้กอล์ฟ máay kɔ́ɔp golf club ไม้กอล์ฟ details
mark [in the name of a writing symbol]
Appears at the beginning of names for Thai tone marks, vowel signs, and other writing symbols. It is normally used within the established name of a particular mark rather than alone.
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ไม้เอก máay èek the first tone mark, ่ ไม้เอก details
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ไม้ยมก máay yámók the repetition mark, ๆ ไม้ยมก details
skewer [classifier for skewered food]、piece [classifier for certain stick-like objects]
Classifies skewered food and certain sticks or stick-like implements, corresponding to “skewer” or “piece” depending on the item.
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หมูปิ้งสองไม้ mǔupîŋ sɔ̌ɔŋ máay two skewers of grilled pork หมูปิ้งสองไม้ details
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เอาลูกชิ้นสองไม้ aw lûukchín sɔ̌ɔŋ máay I'll have two skewers of meatballs. เอาลูกชิ้นสองไม้ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image of ไม้ is a tree, with related meanings extending to wood, sticks, skewers, and stick-shaped implements. When it indicates material, it follows the item being described, as in บ้านไม้, “wooden house.” For a clearly identifiable living tree, ต้นไม้ is the usual everyday word, and trees are counted with ต้น: ต้นไม้สามต้น, “three trees.” Because ไม้ forms a large number of compounds, words such as ไม้กวาด, “broom,” and ไม้เท้า, “cane,” are best learned as complete units.
Usage
It is common when discussing wooden furniture and buildings, gardening and plants, or the names of sticks, tools, and sports equipment. At food stalls it serves as a unit when ordering skewers, as in หมูปิ้งสองไม้, “two skewers of grilled pork.” Learners also encounter it frequently in the names of Thai tone marks and other writing symbols.
Caution
On its own, ไม้ can mean a tree, wood, or a stick, so use the surrounding context or the full compound to identify the intended meaning. Do not use ไม้ to count living trees; use ต้น. Also distinguish it from ไม่, the negator “not,” and ไหม, a question particle or the noun “silk”; they are separate words with different spellings and meanings.
Differences from similar words
1 tree synonyms
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ต้นไม้ is the standard everyday word for an individual living tree. ไม้ is broader and may instead mean wood, and it commonly forms plant-category terms.
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พืช is the general term for plant life, including grasses and crops. ไม้ more readily suggests woody plants, though it also occurs in horticultural terms for other plants.
2 wood synonyms
3 stick synonyms
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คัน is commonly a classifier for handled or shaft-like objects such as umbrellas, fishing rods, and rackets. ไม้ can name the object itself and can also classify certain stick-like objects.
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แท่ง describes a solid bar or elongated piece regardless of material. ไม้ typically refers to a wooden stick or a particular implement derived from the idea of a stick.