泰语 (tài yǔ) — Thai (language) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

Thai (language)

Examples

泰语。
Wǒ zuì jìn zài xué tài yǔ.
I am currently learning Thai.
泰语？
Nǐ néng bǎ zhè duàn huà fān yì chéng tài yǔ ma?
Can you translate this paragraph into Thai?
泰语，。
tài yǔ Shì tài guó de guān fāng yǔ yán, yǒu dú tè de shēng diào xì tǒng.
Thai is the official language of Thailand and has a unique tonal system.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

语yǔlanguage

泰 names Thai, and 语 names language.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

廾廾gǒngtwo hands

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

大

大dà泰tài

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

泰 combines 大 for sound with 廾 (two hands) and 水 (water), showing hands handling water or something slippery.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

言吾語

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

吾

吾wú語yǔ

Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.

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