Main Translations

• English: acceptable
• Thai: ยอมรับได้ (Primary Translation 1)
• Phonetic: yom rap dai
• Detailed Explanation: This translation is commonly used in everyday contexts to describe something that meets basic standards, is tolerable, or can be agreed upon without strong objection. It carries a neutral to positive emotional connotation, implying adequacy rather than excellence. For instance, in decision-making scenarios, it suggests a compromise. Semantic nuances include its flexibility in formal and informal settings, often emphasizing social or ethical norms (e.g., "acceptable behavior" in Thai culture might involve respect for elders).
• Thai: รับได้ (Secondary Translation 2)
• Phonetic: rap dai
• Detailed Explanation: This is a more concise and informal translation, meaning something that can be received or endured. It has a slightly less formal tone and is often used in casual conversations, with emotional connotations leaning toward tolerance or resignation. Semantic nuances highlight its use in situations involving personal preferences or minor inconveniences, such as accepting a flawed product. In Thai, it can imply a cultural value of "mai pen rai" (never mind), promoting harmony over confrontation.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

The word "acceptable" is an adjective primarily used to describe something that meets minimum requirements or standards without being exceptional. It appears in various contexts, such as business negotiations (e.g., evaluating proposals), leisure activities (e.g., settling on plans), formal occasions (e.g., etiquette), and informal settings (e.g., daily interactions). Its usage often involves judgment based on cultural, social, or ethical norms, making it versatile for both positive affirmations and neutral assessments. In Thai contexts, it reflects values like politeness and compromise, appearing frequently in interpersonal communication to avoid conflict.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

• English: The quality of the product is acceptable for our budget constraints.
• Thai: คุณภาพของสินค้านี้ยอมรับได้สำหรับข้อจำกัดด้านงบประมาณของเรา
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The quality" (subject, noun phrase) + "of the product" (prepositional phrase modifying the subject) + "is" (linking verb in present tense) + "acceptable" (predicate adjective) + "for our budget constraints" (prepositional phrase providing context).
• Structural Analysis: This sentence follows a subject-verb-complement structure, common in business English. The adjective "acceptable" modifies the noun "quality," emphasizing evaluation. In Thai, the structure is subject-object-verb, with "ยอมรับได้" acting as the predicate, making it culturally adaptive for hierarchical discussions.

Leisure Scenario

• English: The weather today is acceptable for a picnic in the park.
• Thai: สภาพอากาศวันนี้รับได้สำหรับการปิกนิกในสวน
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The weather" (subject) + "today" (adverbial phrase) + "is" (linking verb) + "acceptable" (adjective) + "for a picnic in the park" (infinitive phrase as complement).
• Structural Analysis: The sentence uses a simple declarative structure to express a casual opinion. "Acceptable" here softens expectations, which is mirrored in Thai by "รับได้," promoting a relaxed tone suitable for leisure contexts.

Formal Occasion

• English: Your attire is acceptable for the gala event.
• Thai: ชุดของคุณยอมรับได้สำหรับงานกาล่า
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Your attire" (subject) + "is" (linking verb) + "acceptable" (adjective) + "for the gala event" (prepositional phrase).
• Structural Analysis: This employs a straightforward subject-verb-adjective structure, ideal for formal communication. In Thai, the polite particle implies respect, aligning with cultural norms of formality.

Informal Occasion

• English: That movie was acceptable, but not amazing.
• Thai: หนังเรื่องนั้นรับได้ แต่ไม่ยอดเยี่ยม
• Grammatical Breakdown: "That movie" (subject) + "was" (linking verb in past tense) + "acceptable" (adjective) + "but not amazing" (conjunction with contrasting adjective).
• Structural Analysis: The sentence uses coordination for contrast, making it conversational. In Thai, "แต่" (but) adds nuance, reflecting informal habits like downplaying criticism.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

• English: The terms of the agreement are acceptable.
• Thai: เงื่อนไขของข้อตกลงยอมรับได้
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The terms" (subject) + "of the agreement" (prepositional phrase) + "are" (linking verb) + "acceptable" (predicate adjective).
• Structural Analysis: A standard declarative form stating a fact, with "acceptable" as the key descriptor.

Interrogative Sentence

• English: Is this level of service acceptable to you?
• Thai: ระดับการบริการนี้ยอมรับได้สำหรับคุณหรือไม่
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Is" (auxiliary verb) + "this level of service" (subject) + "acceptable" (adjective) + "to you" (prepositional phrase) + "?" (question mark).
• Structural Analysis: This inverts the subject-verb order for a question, encouraging dialogue. In Thai, the question particle "หรือไม่" softens the inquiry.

Imperative Sentence

• English: Make sure the proposal is acceptable before submitting it.
• Thai: ตรวจสอบให้แน่ใจว่าข้อเสนอยอมรับได้ก่อนส่ง
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Make sure" (imperative verb phrase) + "the proposal is acceptable" (subordinate clause) + "before submitting it" (adverbial clause).
• Structural Analysis: Commands like this use imperatives for directives, with "acceptable" in a conditional role.

Exclamatory Sentence

• English: How acceptable this outcome is!
• Thai: นี่เป็นผลลัพธ์ที่ยอมรับได้มากแค่ไหน!
• Grammatical Breakdown: "How" (exclamation starter) + "acceptable" (adjective) + "this outcome is" (subject and verb) + "!" (exclamation mark).
• Structural Analysis: This expresses strong emotion, amplifying "acceptable" for emphasis.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

• English: This is acceptable.
• Thai: นี่ยอมรับได้
• Grammatical Breakdown: "This" (subject) + "is" (verb) + "acceptable" (adjective).
• Structural Analysis: A basic structure for beginners, focusing on core adjective usage.

Intermediate Sentence

• English: The results, though not perfect, are acceptable for now.
• Thai: ผลลัพธ์ แม้จะไม่สมบูรณ์ แต่ยอมรับได้ในตอนนี้
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The results" (subject) + "though not perfect" (concessive clause) + "are acceptable" (predicate) + "for now" (adverbial phrase).
• Structural Analysis: Introduces clauses for contrast, building complexity while maintaining clarity.

Complex Sentence

• English: Although we expected more, the compromise we reached is acceptable because it addresses the key issues.
• Thai: แม้ว่าเราคาดหวังมากกว่านี้ แต่ข้อตกลงที่เราบรรลุยอมรับได้เพราะมันแก้ไขปัญหาหลัก
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Although we expected more" (subordinate clause) + "the compromise we reached" (subject) + "is acceptable" (predicate) + "because it addresses the key issues" (subordinate clause).
• Structural Analysis: Multiple clauses create depth, showing how "acceptable" functions in nuanced, real-world scenarios.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

• Adequate – Used when something meets basic needs, often in professional contexts (e.g., "The report is adequate for the meeting").
• Satisfactory – Implies contentment, with a slightly more positive tone (e.g., "The service was satisfactory").

Antonyms:

• Unacceptable – Describes something that falls below standards, often leading to rejection (e.g., "This behavior is unacceptable in the workplace").
• Intolerable – Suggests something that cannot be endured, with stronger emotional weight (e.g., "The noise is intolerable").

Common Collocations:

• Socially acceptable – Refers to behaviors fitting societal norms (e.g., "Wearing casual clothes is socially acceptable at this event").
• Acceptable risk – Used in decision-making to denote manageable dangers (e.g., "We took an acceptable risk in the investment").

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

• Cultural Point 1: In Thai culture, the concept of "acceptable" often ties to the value of "kreng jai" (consideration for others), where maintaining harmony is prioritized. For example, something might be deemed acceptable to avoid confrontation, even if it's not ideal, reflecting a collectivist society that values social cohesion over individual dissatisfaction.

Usage Habits:

• Habit 1: "Acceptable" and its Thai equivalents are frequently used in everyday conversations among all age groups, especially in urban areas influenced by global standards. It's more popular in formal settings like business or education, with higher frequency in written Thai (e.g., emails) than spoken, due to its neutral tone that promotes politeness.

Grammar Explanation

Grammatical Function:

"Acceptable" functions primarily as an adjective, describing nouns (e.g., "an acceptable solution") or appearing in predicate positions (e.g., "This is acceptable"). It can act as a subject complement or object complement, modifying the quality of the subject.

Tense and Voice:

As an adjective, "acceptable" doesn't change with tenses but adapts to the verb it's linked with (e.g., "was acceptable" in past tense). In passive voice, it's often used in constructions like "The idea was deemed acceptable," where the focus is on the state rather than action. In Thai, it remains invariant, relying on context for tense.

References

Etymology and History:

The word "acceptable" originates from the Latin "acceptabilis," derived from "accipere" (to receive or take). It evolved through Old French into Middle English around the 14th century, initially meaning worthy of acceptance. Historically, it has been used in legal and social contexts to denote approval, evolving to include modern nuances of tolerance in diverse cultural settings.

Literary References:

• In William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" (Act 1, Scene 2), the phrase "more than kin, and less than kind" indirectly explores acceptability in relationships. A modern reference is in George Orwell's "1984," where "acceptable" is used in the context of conformity: "The Party's version of history was acceptable to the masses" (Chapter 1), highlighting its role in authoritarian narratives.