Main Translations

English: Astronomical

The word "astronomical" is an adjective derived from the field of astronomy, referring to anything related to stars, planets, or celestial bodies. It is also used figuratively to describe something extremely large in scale, such as costs or distances.

Thai: เกี่ยวกับดาราศาสตร์ (Geub waang daaraa sàat)

Phonetic: Geub waang daaraa sàat (pronounced with a rising tone on "daaraa" and a falling tone on "sàat").

Detailed Explanation: This translation is used primarily in literal, scientific contexts, such as discussions about space exploration or celestial events. It carries a neutral to positive emotional connotation, evoking wonder and curiosity about the universe. Semantic nuances include its application to vast scales, like the size of galaxies, which can imply awe or complexity in usage scenarios involving education or research.

Thai: มหาศาล (Mahaasan)

Phonetic: Mahaasan (pronounced with a high tone on "maha" and a mid tone on "asan").

Detailed Explanation: This secondary translation is more common in figurative contexts, meaning "enormous" or "immense." It often conveys exaggeration or emphasis, with emotional connotations of surprise or overwhelm. Semantic nuances include its use in everyday language to describe large quantities, such as prices or distances, making it versatile in informal or business settings in Thai culture.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

The word "astronomical" is versatile, appearing in both literal and figurative contexts. In literal scenarios, it relates to astronomy and scientific discussions, such as observing stars or planetary systems. Figuratively, it describes something extraordinarily large, like financial figures or distances, often in business, leisure, or everyday conversations. This dual usage highlights its adaptability across formal and informal settings, making it a keyword in educational, scientific, and economic contexts.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

English: The company's annual revenue reached astronomical figures this year due to global demand.

Thai: รายได้ประจำปีของบริษัทสูงถึงระดับมหาศาลในปีนี้ เนื่องจากความต้องการทั่วโลก (Raay daai prajam bpii khǎaw sǔung tòò rab mahaasan nai bpii ni neung jaak khwaam tàang tǎng thuaan lók).

Grammatical Breakdown: "The company's annual revenue" (subject + possessive + noun) is the main clause, modified by "reached astronomical figures" (verb + adjective + object). "Due to global demand" is a prepositional phrase providing cause.

Structural Analysis: This is a complex sentence with a main clause and a subordinate clause, emphasizing scale in a professional context. The adjective "astronomical" modifies "figures," highlighting exaggeration for business impact.

Leisure Scenario

English: During our stargazing trip, the astronomical display of the Milky Way was breathtaking.

Thai: ในทริปดูดาวของเรา การแสดงเกี่ยวกับดาราศาสตร์ของทางช้างเผือกนั้นน่าตื่นเต้นมาก (Nai triip duu daao khǎaw rao, gaan sǎang geub waang daaraa sàat khǎaw taang cháng pheuak nan nâa dteun dten maak).

Grammatical Breakdown: "During our stargazing trip" (prepositional phrase) introduces the sentence, while "the astronomical display" (article + adjective + noun) acts as the subject, followed by "was breathtaking" (verb + adjective).

Structural Analysis: This declarative sentence uses "astronomical" literally to describe a visual phenomenon, creating a vivid, engaging structure suitable for casual leisure narratives.

Formal Occasion

English: In his lecture, the professor discussed the astronomical implications of black holes on the universe.

Thai: ในคำบรรยายของเขา ศาสตราจารย์ได้พูดถึงผลกระทบเกี่ยวกับดาราศาสตร์ของหลุมดำต่อจักรวาล (Nai kham ban yaai khǎaw khuua, sas tra ja rii daai phûut tòò phal krathop geub waang daaraa sàat khǎaw lum dam tòr jak ra wun).

Grammatical Breakdown: "In his lecture" (prepositional phrase) sets the scene, "the professor discussed" (subject + verb), and "the astronomical implications" (article + adjective + noun) is the object with a prepositional phrase.

Structural Analysis: A formal, compound sentence structure where "astronomical" adds precision, making it ideal for academic or professional discourse.

Informal Occasion

English: Wow, the price of that gadget is astronomical— I can't afford it!

Thai: โอ้โห ราคาของอุปกรณ์นั้นมหาศาลเลย— ฉันซื้อไม่ไหวหรอก! (Oh ho, raa khaaw khǎaw up kà ren nan mahaasan loei— chăn súey mâi wǎi hràawk!)

Grammatical Breakdown: "Wow, the price" (interjection + noun phrase) leads into "is astronomical" (verb + adjective), with "I can't afford it" as a separate clause.

Structural Analysis: An exclamatory-informal structure using "astronomical" figuratively for emphasis, common in everyday conversations to express surprise.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

English: The telescope provides an astronomical view of distant galaxies.

Thai: กล้องดูดาวให้ภาพเกี่ยวกับดาราศาสตร์ของกาแลกซี่ที่อยู่ไกล (Glaang duu daao hai phâap geub waang daaraa sàat khǎaw gaa laek sii thi yu thai glai).

Grammatical Breakdown: "The telescope" (subject) + "provides" (verb) + "an astronomical view" (object with adjective modifier).

Structural Analysis: Straightforward subject-verb-object structure, stating a fact about astronomical observations.

Interrogative Sentence

English: Have you ever seen an astronomical event like a solar eclipse?

Thai: คุณเคยเห็นเหตุการณ์เกี่ยวกับดาราศาสตร์อย่างสุริยุปราคาหรือไม่? (Khun koey hen hèt kan geub waang daaraa sàat àang suri yu praa rǔe mâi?)

Grammatical Breakdown: "Have you ever seen" (auxiliary verb + subject + verb) + "an astronomical event" (object) + "like a solar eclipse" (prepositional phrase).

Structural Analysis: Question form with inversion, using "astronomical" to inquire about experiences, promoting engagement.

Imperative Sentence

English: Study the astronomical data carefully before making your decision.

Thai: ศึกษาข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับดาราศาสตร์อย่างระมัดระวังก่อนตัดสินใจ (Săa sǎa khâo khun geub waang daaraa sàat àang ra mat ra wang gòrn dtàt sin jàt).

Grammatical Breakdown: "Study" (imperative verb) + "the astronomical data" (object) + "carefully before making your decision" (adverb + subordinate clause).

Structural Analysis: Command structure urging action, with "astronomical" specifying the focus for emphasis in educational contexts.

Exclamatory Sentence

English: What an astronomical discovery that was!

Thai: นั่นเป็นการค้นพบเกี่ยวกับดาราศาสตร์ที่น่าอัศจรรย์มาก! (Nán pen gaan khǒn phóp geub waang daaraa sàat thi nâa at jar rii maak!)

Grammatical Breakdown: "What an astronomical discovery" (exclamation phrase) + "that was" (verb clause).

Structural Analysis: Emphasizes excitement, with "astronomical" amplifying the emotional impact in scientific discussions.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

English: Stars are astronomical objects.

Thai: ดาวเป็นวัตถุเกี่ยวกับดาราศาสตร์ (Daao bpen wat tu geub waang daaraa sàat).

Grammatical Breakdown: "Stars" (subject) + "are" (verb) + "astronomical objects" (predicate with adjective).

Structural Analysis: Basic subject-verb-predicate structure, ideal for beginners learning astronomical terms.

Intermediate Sentence

English: The astronomical distance to Mars makes space travel challenging.

Thai: ระยะทางเกี่ยวกับดาราศาสตร์ไปยังดาวอังคารทำให้การเดินทางอวกาศยากลำบาก (Ra yaa taang geub waang daaraa sàat bpai yang daao ang kaan tam hai gaan deen taang aa waak àat yaak lam baak).

Grammatical Breakdown: "The astronomical distance" (subject) + "to Mars" (prepositional phrase) + "makes space travel challenging" (verb + object + adjective).

Structural Analysis: Compound structure introducing cause and effect, suitable for intermediate learners exploring astronomical concepts.

Complex Sentence

English: Although the astronomical costs were high, the investment in the observatory led to groundbreaking research.

Thai: แม้ว่าราคาเกี่ยวกับดาราศาสตร์จะสูง แต่การลงทุนในหอดูดาวนำไปสู่การวิจัยที่ก้าวกระโดด (Mae wa raa khaaw geub waang daaraa sàat ja sǔung, tàe gaan long dtam nai hǎo duu daao nam bpai sǔu gaan wi ja yaa thi gào kra dòd).

Grammatical Breakdown: "Although the astronomical costs were high" (subordinate clause) + "the investment led to groundbreaking research" (main clause).

Structural Analysis: Multi-clause structure with concession, demonstrating advanced use of "astronomical" in contextual narratives.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

• Cosmic – Used to describe vast, universe-related phenomena, often interchangeably with astronomical in scientific contexts (e.g., cosmic radiation).
• Vast – Emphasizes immense size or extent, similar to the figurative use of astronomical (e.g., vast distances).

Antonyms:

• Minuscule – Refers to something extremely small, contrasting the scale implied by astronomical (e.g., minuscule particles vs. astronomical bodies).
• Tiny – Highlights diminutiveness, often used in opposition to describe negligible sizes (e.g., tiny errors in astronomical calculations).

Common Collocations:

• Astronomical unit – Refers to the average distance from Earth to the Sun, used in scientific measurements (e.g., in space exploration discussions).
• Astronomical prices – Describes exorbitantly high costs, common in business or economic contexts (e.g., during inflation talks).

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

• Cultural Point 1: In Thai culture, astronomy has historical roots in ancient traditions, such as the use of celestial events in festivals like Songkran (Thai New Year), which is based on astronomical alignments. The word "astronomical" reflects this heritage, symbolizing human curiosity about the cosmos and its influence on daily life, such as in astrology for fortune-telling.

Usage Habits:

• Habit 1: "Astronomical" is frequently used in urban, educated circles in Thailand, especially among students and professionals in science and business. It is more popular in formal writing or media than casual speech, with high frequency in online content related to space exploration (e.g., NASA updates), making it a trending keyword in SEO-driven educational platforms.

Grammar Explanation

Grammatical Function: "Astronomical" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe size, scale, or relation to astronomy (e.g., as a subject complement or object modifier). It can also appear in predicate positions, such as in "The figures are astronomical."

Tense and Voice: As an adjective, "astronomical" does not change with tense; it remains constant regardless of verb forms. In passive voice constructions, it still modifies nouns directly (e.g., "The data was described as astronomical"). Its usage is flexible in active or passive sentences, such as "Scientists study astronomical phenomena."

References

Etymology and History:

The word "astronomical" originates from the Greek "astron" (meaning star) and "nomos" (meaning law or arrangement), evolving through Latin as "astronomicalis." It entered English in the 16th century, initially in scientific contexts, and later expanded figuratively in the 19th century to describe large scales, influenced by advancements in astronomy during the Industrial Revolution.

Literary References:

• From H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds" (1898): "The astronomical knowledge of the Martians must be immense." This quote highlights the literal use, emphasizing advanced scientific understanding in a sci-fi context.
• From Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (1979): "The universe is an astronomical place, full of wonders." Here, it is used figuratively to convey vastness, popularizing the word in modern literature and pop culture.