ตะวัน
the sun
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 the sun
This word refers to the sun in the sky. It is widely understood and can sound warmer or more evocative than the neutral term ดวงอาทิตย์.
the sun
The sun, especially when described in connection with sunrise, sunset, sunlight, or a scene in nature.
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ตะวันขึ้นแล้ว tawan khʉ̂n lɛ́ɛw The sun has risen. ตะวันขึ้นแล้ว details
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ตะวันกำลังจะตก tawan kamlaŋ cà tòk The sun is about to set. ตะวันกำลังจะตก details
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แสงตะวันยามเช้า sɛ̌ɛŋ tawan yaam cháaw the morning sunlight แสงตะวันยามเช้า details
Learning notes
Explanation
ตะวัน is a noun meaning “the sun.” It often appears in descriptions of sunrise, sunset, sunlight, and natural scenery. Its classifier is ดวง, so ดวงตะวัน can be used when the sun is treated as a round celestial body, though there is rarely a practical need to count suns. The basic direction words ตะวันออก (“east”) and ตะวันตก (“west”) are connected with the directions where the sun rises and sets.
Usage
It is used when talking about sunrise, sunset, sunlight, or the appearance of the sky. Although it is readily understood in everyday speech, it is especially common in songs, stories, evocative writing, and personal names. Its compounds ตะวันออก and ตะวันตก are everyday words used for directions and geography.
Caution
ตะวันตก can mean the single concept “west,” but it can also be parsed as ตะวัน (“the sun”) plus ตก (“to set”), depending on context. For example, ภาคตะวันตก means “the western region,” while ตะวันตกแล้ว means “the sun has set.” In neutral or scientific descriptions, ดวงอาทิตย์ is usually the more appropriate term.
Differences from similar words
1 the sun synonyms
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ดวงอาทิตย์ is the neutral, standard term for the sun and works well even in scientific explanations. ตะวัน refers to the same celestial body but can have a warmer, more evocative tone, especially in descriptions of nature, songs, and stories.