BaanWords

age

อายุ - Thai translation

Main Translations

  • English: age
  • Thai: อายุ (Ayu)
    • Phonetic: ah-yoo
    • Detailed Explanation: "อายุ" is the primary translation for "age" when referring to the length of time a person, animal, or object has existed, often in the context of years lived. It is a neutral term with practical connotations, commonly used in everyday scenarios like asking about someone's birthday, legal documents, or health assessments. For example, it emphasizes maturity or eligibility (e.g., "voting age"). In Thai culture, this word can carry subtle emotional nuances, such as respect for elders, as age often influences social hierarchy.
  • Thai: ยุค (Yuk)
    • Phonetic: yuk
    • Detailed Explanation: This secondary translation refers to "age" in the sense of a historical period, era, or epoch, such as the "Stone Age." It has a more abstract and neutral connotation, often used in educational, historical, or cultural discussions. Semantic nuances include a sense of progression or change over time, and it may evoke feelings of nostalgia or reflection when discussing societal evolution.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

The word "age" is versatile and appears in various contexts, from personal inquiries about someone's years of life to broader discussions of historical eras. In English and Thai, it is frequently used in daily conversations, formal settings like business or legal environments, and informal chats. Key scenarios include inquiring about personal details (e.g., in job interviews), describing historical periods (e.g., in education), or metaphorically referring to maturity (e.g., in leisure or cultural contexts). This makes "age" a fundamental word for SEO topics like "age usage in Thai" or "examples of age in sentences."

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

  • English: What is your age for the job application?
  • Thai: อายุของคุณสำหรับใบสมัครงานเท่าไร
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "What" (interrogative pronoun) + "is" (verb, present tense) + "your" (possessive adjective) + "age" (noun) + "for" (preposition) + "the job application" (noun phrase). In Thai, "อายุของคุณ" (your age) is the subject, "สำหรับ" (for) acts as a preposition, and "ใบสมัครงาน" (job application) is a noun.
  • Structural Analysis: This is a simple interrogative sentence structure in English, following subject-verb-object order with a prepositional phrase. In Thai, it uses a question word at the end for emphasis, common in business contexts to gather factual information politely.

Leisure Scenario

  • English: At what age did you start traveling?
  • Thai: คุณเริ่มเดินทางตอนอายุเท่าไร
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "At" (preposition) + "what age" (interrogative phrase) + "did" (auxiliary verb, past tense) + "you" (subject pronoun) + "start" (verb) + "traveling" (gerund). In Thai, "คุณ" (you) is the subject, "เริ่ม" (start) is the verb, and "ตอนอายุเท่าไร" (at what age) is a time phrase.
  • Structural Analysis: The sentence uses a past tense structure to inquire about personal experiences, making it conversational for leisure topics. In Thai, the structure is more flexible, often placing the time element first for natural flow in casual discussions.

Formal Occasion

  • English: The legal age for voting is 18 in most countries.
  • Thai: อายุที่กฎหมายกำหนดสำหรับการลงคะแนนเสียงคือ 18 ปีในประเทศส่วนใหญ่
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "The legal age" (noun phrase) + "for voting" (prepositional phrase) + "is" (verb, present tense) + "18" (number) + "in most countries" (prepositional phrase). In Thai, "อายุที่กฎหมายกำหนด" (the legal age) is the subject, "สำหรับการลงคะแนนเสียง" (for voting) is a phrase, and "คือ" (is) links the clauses.
  • Structural Analysis: This declarative sentence provides factual information with a formal tone, using precise language. In Thai, it employs relative clauses for detail, which is typical in official or educational settings.

Informal Occasion

  • English: You're the same age as me, right?
  • Thai: คุณอายุเท่าฉันใช่ไหม
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "You're" (contraction of you are) + "the same age" (adjective phrase) + "as me" (prepositional phrase) + "right?" (tag question). In Thai, "คุณอายุเท่า" (you are the same age) + "ฉัน" (me) + "ใช่ไหม" (right?).
  • Structural Analysis: This informal interrogative sentence builds rapport in casual conversations. Thai structure is concise, using tag questions for confirmation, which aligns with everyday social interactions.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

  • English: My age is 25 years old.
  • Thai: อายุของฉันคือ 25 ปี
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "My" (possessive adjective) + "age" (noun) + "is" (verb) + "25 years old" (predicate nominative). In Thai, "อายุของฉัน" (my age) is the subject, and "คือ" (is) is the linking verb.
  • Structural Analysis: A straightforward declarative structure stating facts, ideal for introductions or profiles.

Interrogative Sentence

  • English: How old is the age limit for this event?
  • Thai: อายุจำกัดสำหรับงานนี้เท่าไร
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "How old" (interrogative phrase) + "is" (verb) + "the age limit" (noun phrase) + "for this event" (prepositional phrase). In Thai, "อายุจำกัด" (age limit) is the main noun, with "สำหรับงานนี้" (for this event).
  • Structural Analysis: This questions details, using inversion in English; Thai places the question at the end for emphasis.

Imperative Sentence

  • English: Check the age requirements before applying.
  • Thai: ตรวจสอบอายุที่กำหนดก่อนสมัคร
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Check" (imperative verb) + "the age requirements" (direct object) + "before applying" (adverbial phrase). In Thai, "ตรวจสอบ" (check) is the verb, and "อายุที่กำหนด" (age requirements) is the object.
  • Structural Analysis: Commands like this are direct and action-oriented, often in advice or instructions.

Exclamatory Sentence

  • English: What an advanced age for retirement!
  • Thai: อายุที่สูงขนาดนี้สำหรับการเกษียณแล้ว!
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "What an" (exclamation starter) + "advanced age" (noun phrase) + "for retirement" (prepositional phrase). In Thai, "อายุที่สูงขนาดนี้" (such an advanced age) is exclamatory.
  • Structural Analysis: This expresses surprise or emphasis, using exclamation marks for emotional impact.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

  • English: I am 30 years of age.
  • Thai: ฉันอายุ 30 ปี
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "I" (subject) + "am" (verb) + "30 years of age" (predicate). In Thai, "ฉัน" (I) + "อายุ" (age) + "30 ปี" (30 years).
  • Structural Analysis: Basic subject-verb-object structure, easy for beginners.

Intermediate Sentence

  • English: Despite her young age, she achieved great success.
  • Thai: แม้จะอายุยังน้อยแต่เธอประสบความสำเร็จอย่างมาก
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Despite" (conjunction) + "her young age" (noun phrase) + "she" (subject) + "achieved" (verb) + "great success" (object). In Thai, "แม้จะ" (despite) introduces the clause.
  • Structural Analysis: Involves a subordinate clause, adding complexity for intermediate learners.

Complex Sentence

  • English: As people reach a certain age, they often reflect on their life choices and seek new opportunities.
  • Thai: เมื่อคนเรามาถึงอายุหนึ่งแล้ว มักจะทบทวนทางเลือกในชีวิตและมองหาโอกาสใหม่
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "As" (subordinating conjunction) + "people reach" (clause) + "a certain age" (object) + "they often reflect" (main clause). In Thai, multiple clauses are linked with "เมื่อ" (when).
  • Structural Analysis: Features dependent and independent clauses, suitable for advanced discussions on life stages.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

  • Era – Used to describe a historical period, similar to "age" in contexts like "the digital era." Explanation: Often interchangeable in historical discussions for a broader timeline.
  • Maturity – Refers to the state of being fully developed, like "age" in personal growth. Explanation: Carries positive connotations of wisdom or readiness.

Antonyms:

  • Youth – Opposite of "age," implying early life stages. Explanation: Used in contrasts, e.g., "from youth to age," to highlight life progression.
  • Infancy – Denotes the beginning of life, contrasting with advanced age. Explanation: Common in developmental contexts, emphasizing newness versus experience.

Common Collocations:

  • Coming of age – Refers to reaching maturity, often in rites of passage. Explanation: Popular in stories or cultural events, symbolizing transition.
  • Golden age – Describes a peak period, like in history or personal life. Explanation: Evokes nostalgia and is used metaphorically for prosperity.

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

  • Cultural Point 1: In Thai culture, age (อายุ) is deeply tied to respect and hierarchy, as seen in traditions like "wai" (a gesture of respect) where younger people bow to elders. This reflects Buddhist influences emphasizing wisdom with age, making "age" a keyword in discussions of social etiquette. For SEO, this ties into "age in Thai culture" as a search term for understanding interpersonal dynamics.

Usage Habits:

  • Habit 1: "Age" is frequently used in Thailand among all age groups, especially in formal settings like job applications or family gatherings, but less so in casual youth conversations. It is popular in urban areas due to globalization, with high frequency in media and education, making it essential for learners searching "Thai age phrases."

Grammar Explanation

Grammatical Function:

"Age" primarily functions as a noun in sentences, serving as a subject, object, or complement (e.g., "Age is just a number"). In Thai, it acts similarly as a noun (e.g., อายุ as subject). It can also modify other nouns in phrases like "age group."

Tense and Voice:

"Age" doesn't change with tenses as it's a noun, but verbs around it do (e.g., "I aged gracefully" in past tense). In passive voice, it might appear in constructions like "The age was determined by experts." In Thai, tense is implied through context or particles, with no direct voice changes for nouns.

References

Etymology and History:

The word "age" originates from the Old French "aage," derived from Latin "aetatem" (meaning period of life). It evolved in English during the Middle Ages to encompass both personal lifespan and historical eras. In Thai, "อายุ" comes from Sanskrit "ayu," influenced by Indian culture through Buddhism, highlighting its historical ties to life stages and philosophy.

Literary References:

  • From William Shakespeare's "As You Like It": "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages." Source: Act 2, Scene 7. This passage uses "ages" metaphorically for life stages, emphasizing human development.
  • In Thai literature, from the epic "Phra Aphai Mani" by Sunthorn Phu: References to "อายุ" in contexts of wisdom and time, symbolizing the passage of life in poetic verses.