Main Translations

• English: Abolish
• Thai: ยกเลิก (Yok lek)
• Phonetic: Yok lek (pronounced as "yohk leek" with a rising tone on "yok" and a mid tone on "lek")
• Detailed Explanation: The word "abolish" means to officially end or eliminate something, such as a law, system, or practice, often through formal action. In Thai, "ยกเลิก" is the primary translation and is commonly used in legal, political, or administrative contexts. It carries a neutral to formal emotional connotation, implying permanence and authority. Semantic nuances include a focus on complete eradication rather than temporary suspension, making it ideal for scenarios involving reforms or policy changes. For example, it is frequently used in government announcements or business decisions to convey decisiveness without emotional bias.
• Thai: ล้มเลิก (Lom lek)
• Phonetic: Lom lek (pronounced as "lohm leek" with a low tone on "lom" and a mid tone on "lek")
• Detailed Explanation: As a secondary translation, "ล้มเลิก" emphasizes the act of overturning or collapsing something, often with a slightly more dramatic or emphatic connotation than "ยกเลิก." It is used in contexts involving cultural practices, traditions, or outdated systems. Emotionally, it can imply regret or resistance to change, and semantically, it highlights the downfall or failure of the entity being abolished. This nuance makes it suitable for historical or social discussions, such as abolishing discriminatory customs, and is more common in literary or rhetorical speech.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

The word "abolish" is primarily used in formal and professional contexts to denote the complete elimination of laws, institutions, practices, or policies. Its usage scenarios span politics, business, social reforms, and everyday discussions about change. In Thai, translations like "ยกเลิก" or "ล้มเลิก" adapt to these contexts, often appearing in official documents, debates, or casual conversations about societal improvements. Key scenarios include legal reforms (e.g., abolishing outdated laws), business decisions (e.g., abolishing inefficient processes), and cultural shifts (e.g., abolishing harmful traditions), emphasizing authority, permanence, and progress.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

• English: The board of directors voted to abolish the outdated sales policy to improve efficiency.
• Thai: คณะกรรมการตัดสินใจยกเลิกนโยบายขายสินค้าที่ล้าสมัยเพื่อเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพ
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The board of directors" (subject, noun phrase) + "voted" (verb, past tense) + "to abolish" (infinitive verb phrase) + "the outdated sales policy" (direct object, noun phrase) + "to improve efficiency" (infinitive purpose clause). In Thai, "คณะกรรมการ" (subject) + "ตัดสินใจ" (verb) + "ยกเลิก" (verb) + "นโยบายขายสินค้าที่ล้าสมัย" (object) + "เพื่อเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพ" (purpose clause).
• Structural Analysis: This sentence follows a subject-verb-object structure in English, with a subordinate clause for purpose. In Thai, it uses a similar S-V-O pattern but with topic-comment ordering common in Thai syntax, making it concise and formal for business communication.

Leisure Scenario

• English: Many countries have decided to abolish certain entry fees for tourists to boost leisure travel.
• Thai: ประเทศหลายประเทศตัดสินใจล้มเลิกค่าธรรมเนียมเข้าประเทศบางส่วนเพื่อส่งเสริมการท่องเที่ยวพักผ่อน
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Many countries" (subject, noun phrase) + "have decided" (verb, present perfect tense) + "to abolish" (infinitive) + "certain entry fees" (object) + "for tourists" (prepositional phrase) + "to boost leisure travel" (purpose clause). In Thai, "ประเทศหลายประเทศ" (subject) + "ตัดสินใจ" (verb) + "ล้มเลิก" (verb) + "ค่าธรรมเนียมเข้าประเทศบางส่วน" (object) + "เพื่อส่งเสริม" (purpose clause).
• Structural Analysis: The English structure is complex with multiple clauses, emphasizing cause and effect. Thai maintains a straightforward flow, using connectors like "เพื่อ" for purpose, which is typical in informal leisure discussions to highlight benefits.

Formal Occasion

• English: The president announced plans to abolish discriminatory laws during the national assembly.
• Thai: ประธานาธิบดีประกาศแผนการยกเลิกกฎหมายที่กีดกันในที่ประชุมระดับชาติ
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The president" (subject) + "announced" (verb, past tense) + "plans" (object) + "to abolish" (infinitive clause) + "discriminatory laws" (object of infinitive) + "during the national assembly" (prepositional phrase). In Thai, "ประธานาธิบดี" (subject) + "ประกาศ" (verb) + "แผนการ" (object) + "ยกเลิก" (verb in clause) + "กฎหมายที่กีดกัน" (object).
• Structural Analysis: This declarative structure in English uses embedded clauses for detail, suitable for formal settings. Thai employs a serial verb construction, which is efficient for official speeches and maintains a respectful tone.

Informal Occasion

• English: Let's abolish that silly rule about wearing ties at parties—it's outdated!
• Thai: มาล้มเลิกกฎระเบียบโง่ๆ เรื่องใส่เนกไทในงานปาร์ตี้กันเถอะ—มันล้าสมัยแล้ว!
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Let's" (imperative subject) + "abolish" (verb) + "that silly rule" (object) + "about wearing ties" (prepositional phrase) + "at parties" (prepositional phrase) + "—it's outdated!" (explanatory clause). In Thai, "มา" (imperative particle) + "ล้มเลิก" (verb) + "กฎระเบียบโง่ๆ" (object) + "เรื่องใส่เนกไท" (phrase) + "ในงานปาร์ตี้" (phrase) + "กันเถอะ" (invitation particle).
• Structural Analysis: The English sentence mixes imperative and exclamatory elements for emphasis in casual talk. Thai uses particles like "เถอะ" for persuasion, making it conversational and relatable in informal settings.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

• English: The government will abolish the tax on essential goods next year.
• Thai: รัฐบาลจะยกเลิกภาษีสินค้าจำเป็นในปีหน้า
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The government" (subject) + "will abolish" (future tense verb) + "the tax" (object) + "on essential goods" (prepositional phrase) + "next year" (time adverbial). In Thai, "รัฐบาล" (subject) + "จะยกเลิก" (future verb) + "ภาษี" (object) + "สินค้าจำเป็น" (phrase) + "ในปีหน้า" (time phrase).
• Structural Analysis: Simple subject-verb-object structure in both languages, ideal for stating facts.

Interrogative Sentence

• English: Will the committee vote to abolish the old regulations?
• Thai: คณะกรรมการจะลงคะแนนยกเลิกกฎระเบียบเก่าไหม?
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Will" (auxiliary verb) + "the committee" (subject) + "vote" (verb) + "to abolish" (infinitive) + "the old regulations?" (object). In Thai, "คณะกรรมการ" (subject) + "จะลงคะแนน" (verb) + "ยกเลิก" (verb) + "กฎระเบียบเก่า" (object) + "ไหม?" (question particle).
• Structural Analysis: Question inversion in English; Thai uses a question particle for inquiry, common in debates.

Imperative Sentence

• English: Abolish the unfair policies immediately!
• Thai: ยกเลิกนโยบายที่ไม่เป็นธรรมทันที!
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Abolish" (imperative verb) + "the unfair policies" (object) + "immediately!" (adverbial). In Thai, "ยกเลิก" (imperative verb) + "นโยบายที่ไม่เป็นธรรม" (object) + "ทันที!" (adverbial).
• Structural Analysis: Direct command structure, urging action in both languages.

Exclamatory Sentence

• English: What a relief it is to finally abolish that burdensome law!
• Thai: ช่างเป็นความโล่งอกที่ได้ล้มเลิกกฎหมายที่หนักอึ้งนั้นเสียที!
• Grammatical Breakdown: "What a relief" (exclamation) + "it is" (verb phrase) + "to finally abolish" (infinitive) + "that burdensome law!" (object). In Thai, "ช่างเป็นความโล่งอก" (exclamation) + "ที่ได้ล้มเลิก" (verb phrase) + "กฎหมายที่หนักอึ้งนั้น" (object) + "เสียที!" (emphasis).
• Structural Analysis: Exclamatory phrasing for emotional emphasis, with Thai using particles for intensity.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

• English: We must abolish slavery.
• Thai: เราต้องยกเลิกทาส
• Grammatical Breakdown: "We" (subject) + "must abolish" (modal verb + main verb) + "slavery" (object). In Thai, "เรา" (subject) + "ต้องยกเลิก" (modal verb + main verb) + "ทาส" (object).
• Structural Analysis: Basic S-V-O structure, easy for beginners.

Intermediate Sentence

• English: The activists campaigned to abolish the death penalty in several states.
• Thai: นักกิจกรรมรณรงค์เพื่อยกเลิกโทษประหารในหลายรัฐ
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The activists" (subject) + "campaigned" (verb) + "to abolish" (infinitive) + "the death penalty" (object) + "in several states" (prepositional phrase). In Thai, "นักกิจกรรม" (subject) + "รณรงค์" (verb) + "เพื่อยกเลิก" (purpose) + "โทษประหาร" (object) + "ในหลายรัฐ" (phrase).
• Structural Analysis: Adds complexity with purpose clauses, suitable for intermediate learners.

Complex Sentence

• English: Although it faced opposition, the parliament decided to abolish the controversial bill because it violated human rights.
• Thai: แม้จะเผชิญกับการคัดค้าน รัฐสภาก็ตัดสินใจยกเลิกกฎหมายที่มีข้อโต้แย้งเพราะมันละเมิดสิทธิมนุษยชน
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Although it faced opposition" (subordinate clause) + "the parliament decided" (main clause) + "to abolish" (infinitive) + "the controversial bill" (object) + "because it violated human rights" (subordinate clause). In Thai, subordinate clauses use connectors like "แม้จะ" and "เพราะ."
• Structural Analysis: Multiple clauses for advanced expression, showing cause-effect relationships.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

• Eliminate – Used to remove something completely, often in contexts like eliminating poverty; similar to "abolish" but can apply to abstract concepts.
• Eradicate – Implies total destruction, especially of diseases or social issues; carries a stronger connotation of permanence than "abolish."

Antonyms:

• Establish – Means to set up or create something new, opposite of abolishing laws or systems.
• Maintain – Involves keeping something in place, contrasting with the idea of ending it.

Common Collocations:

• Abolish slavery – Refers to ending forced labor, often in historical or human rights discussions.
• Abolish a law – Used in legal contexts to describe repealing legislation, emphasizing formal processes.

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

• Cultural Point 1: In Thai culture, words like "ยกเลิก" are often linked to historical reforms, such as the abolition of absolute monarchy in 1932, symbolizing progress and modernization. This reflects a cultural emphasis on collective decision-making and adaptation to global standards.

Usage Habits:

• Habit 1: "ยกเลิก" is frequently used in formal media and government communications, making it popular among educated professionals and policymakers. It is less common in everyday casual talk, with higher frequency in urban areas or among younger generations discussing social justice.

Grammar Explanation

• Grammatical Function: "Abolish" functions as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (e.g., "abolish a law"). It can act as the main verb in a sentence or part of an infinitive phrase.
• Tense and Voice: In active voice, it changes with tenses: "abolish" (present), "abolished" (past), "will abolish" (future). In passive voice, it becomes "was abolished" or "will be abolished," shifting focus to the object (e.g., "The law was abolished by the government").

References

Etymology and History:

The word "abolish" originates from the Latin "abolere," meaning "to destroy or annul." It evolved through Old French "aboliss-" into Middle English around the 15th century, gaining prominence during the Enlightenment era for discussions on social reforms, such as the abolition of slavery in the 19th century.

Literary References:

• In Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace," the concept of abolishing old systems is referenced: "The old order must be abolished for progress to occur." (Source: Tolstoy, 1869). In Thai literature, it appears in works like "The Four Reigns" by Kukrit Pramoj, discussing the abolition of feudal practices during Thailand's modernization.