Main Translations

English: building

Thai: อาคาร (aakarn)

Phonetic: ah-karn (Romanized pronunciation)

Detailed Explanation: As a noun, "building" refers to a structure constructed for human use, such as a house, office, or skyscraper. It often connotes permanence, functionality, and architectural design. In usage scenarios, it emphasizes physical spaces in urban environments, real estate, or construction contexts. Emotionally, it can evoke feelings of stability, progress, or even intimidation (e.g., a massive corporate building). Semantically, it highlights human ingenuity and societal development, with nuances varying by context—e.g., in Thai culture, "อาคาร" might imply modern infrastructure in bustling cities like Bangkok.

Thai: ก่อสร้าง (gor sǎng)

Phonetic: gor-sahng (Romanized pronunciation)

Detailed Explanation: As a verb, "building" translates to the process of constructing or assembling something. It conveys action, effort, and creation, often in contexts like infrastructure projects or personal development. Emotionally, it suggests optimism and achievement, such as in community building efforts. Semantically, nuances include metaphorical uses (e.g., building relationships), which in Thai might overlap with "พัฒนา" (patthanaa) for broader development. This form is common in professional or developmental discussions, reflecting Thailand's rapid urbanization.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

"Building" is a versatile word primarily used as a noun to describe physical structures or as a verb for the act of construction. Main usage scenarios include everyday descriptions of architecture (e.g., homes, offices), business contexts (e.g., corporate headquarters), leisure activities (e.g., visiting landmarks), and metaphorical applications (e.g., building skills). In Thai, it appears in urban planning, tourism, and personal growth discussions, with a focus on its role in modern society and cultural heritage sites.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

English: The new office building is equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Thai: อาคารสำนักงานใหม่ติดตั้งเทคโนโลยีทันสมัย

Grammatical Breakdown: "The" (definite article) + "new" (adjective describing age) + "office building" (noun phrase, compound noun) + "is equipped" (verb phrase in present tense) + "with state-of-the-art technology" (prepositional phrase indicating means).

Structural Analysis: This is a declarative sentence with a subject-verb-object structure. It uses passive voice ("is equipped") to emphasize the building's features, common in business reports for objectivity and focus on results.

Leisure Scenario

English: We spent the afternoon exploring the historic building in the city center.

Thai: เราสำรวจอาคารประวัติศาสตร์ในใจกลางเมืองตลอดบ่าย

Grammatical Breakdown: "We" (subject pronoun) + "spent" (verb in past tense) + "the afternoon" (noun phrase indicating time) + "exploring" (gerund as object) + "the historic building" (noun phrase with adjective) + "in the city center" (prepositional phrase for location).

Structural Analysis: A complex sentence with a main clause and gerund phrase. It builds narrative flow, ideal for storytelling in leisure contexts, and highlights descriptive language for engagement.

Formal Occasion

English: During the ceremony, the mayor unveiled the new community building.

Thai: ในพิธี นายกเทศมนตรีเปิดเผยอาคารชุมชนใหม่

Grammatical Breakdown: "During the ceremony" (prepositional phrase for time) + "the mayor" (subject noun phrase) + "unveiled" (verb in past tense) + "the new community building" (direct object noun phrase).

Structural Analysis: This declarative sentence follows a time-subject-verb-object pattern, suitable for formal writing. It uses active voice for directness, emphasizing key events in official settings.

Informal Occasion

English: Let's meet at that cool building with the rooftop cafe.

Thai: มาเจอกันที่อาคารเท่ๆ ที่มีคาเฟ่บนดาดฟ้าเลย

Grammatical Breakdown: "Let's" (contraction of "let us," imperative form) + "meet" (verb) + "at that cool building" (prepositional phrase with adjective) + "with the rooftop cafe" (prepositional phrase for description).

Structural Analysis: An imperative sentence encouraging action, with informal language ("cool") to create a casual tone. It's concise for everyday conversations, focusing on relational aspects.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

English: This building was constructed in the 19th century.

Thai: อาคารนี้ถูกก่อสร้างในศตวรรษที่ 19

Grammatical Breakdown: "This building" (subject noun phrase) + "was constructed" (verb in past passive voice) + "in the 19th century" (prepositional phrase for time).

Structural Analysis: A simple declarative structure stating facts, used for informative purposes like historical descriptions.

Interrogative Sentence

English: Is this the building where the meeting will be held?

Thai: นี่คืออาคารที่การประชุมจะจัดขึ้นหรือไม่?

Grammatical Breakdown: "Is" (auxiliary verb for question) + "this the building" (subject noun phrase) + "where the meeting will be held" (relative clause) + "?" (question mark).

Structural Analysis: An interrogative sentence with inversion for questioning, promoting interaction in scenarios like event planning.

Imperative Sentence

English: Please enter the building through the main entrance.

Thai: กรุณาเข้าไปในอาคารผ่านทางเข้าหลัก

Grammatical Breakdown: "Please" (polite adverb) + "enter" (imperative verb) + "the building" (direct object) + "through the main entrance" (prepositional phrase).

Structural Analysis: Direct command structure for instructions, emphasizing politeness in public or safety contexts.

Exclamatory Sentence

English: What a magnificent building this is!

Thai: นี่เป็นอาคารที่ยิ่งใหญ่มาก!

Grammatical Breakdown: "What a" (exclamation starter) + "magnificent building" (adjective + noun) + "this is" (subject-verb phrase) + "!" (exclamation mark).

Structural Analysis: An exclamatory sentence for emphasis, evoking admiration in descriptive or emotional contexts.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

English: The building is tall.

Thai: อาคารสูง

Grammatical Breakdown: "The building" (subject) + "is" (linking verb) + "tall" (predicate adjective).

Structural Analysis: A basic subject-verb-adjective structure, ideal for beginners to convey straightforward descriptions.

Intermediate Sentence

English: The building, which was built last year, has modern features.

Thai: อาคารที่ถูกก่อสร้างเมื่อปีที่แล้วมีคุณสมัยใหม่

Grammatical Breakdown: "The building" (subject) + "which was built last year" (relative clause) + "has modern features" (verb phrase + object).

Structural Analysis: A compound sentence with a relative clause, adding detail for intermediate learners in descriptive writing.

Complex Sentence

English: Although the building appears old, it has been renovated with advanced technology inside.

Thai: แม้ว่าอาคารจะดูเก่า แต่มันถูก renovate ด้วยเทคโนโลยีขั้นสูงภายใน

Grammatical Breakdown: "Although the building appears old" (subordinate clause) + "it has been renovated" (main clause) + "with advanced technology inside" (prepositional phrase).

Structural Analysis: A complex sentence with conjunctions for contrast, suitable for advanced discussions on architecture and change.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

• Structure – Used interchangeably with "building" to describe any constructed form, often in architectural contexts (e.g., "The structure houses many offices").
• Edifice – A more formal synonym emphasizing grandeur, as in historical or monumental settings (e.g., "The ancient edifice stands as a symbol of the past").

Antonyms:

• Demolish – The opposite action, meaning to tear down a building, often in urban redevelopment (e.g., "They decided to demolish the old building for a new one").
• Ruin – Refers to a building in a state of decay, contrasting with the intact nature of a building (e.g., "The ruin was once a magnificent building").

Common Collocations:

• High-rise building – Refers to tall structures in urban areas, commonly used in real estate discussions (e.g., "High-rise buildings dominate the city skyline").
• Office building – Specifically for commercial spaces, highlighting professional environments (e.g., "The office building is located in the business district").

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

• Cultural Point 1: In Thai culture, buildings often symbolize national progress and heritage, as seen in landmarks like the Grand Palace in Bangkok. "Building" (อาคาร) is tied to Thailand's rapid modernization, influenced by historical architecture from the Ayutthaya period, blending tradition with contemporary designs. This reflects a cultural value of "sanuk" (fun and balance), where buildings are not just functional but also spaces for community gatherings.

Usage Habits:

• Habit 1: "Building" is frequently used in everyday Thai conversations, especially among urban dwellers and professionals, due to Thailand's booming construction industry. It's popular in media, tourism, and education, with higher frequency in cities like Bangkok. Applicable groups include architects, tourists, and students, who use it casually or formally based on context.

Grammar Explanation

Grammatical Function:

"Building" primarily functions as a noun (e.g., subject or object in sentences like "The building collapsed") or a verb (e.g., in progressive forms like "We are building a house"). As a noun, it can be countable (e.g., "a building") or uncountable in metaphorical senses (e.g., "team building"). It often acts as the direct object in construction-related sentences.

Tense and Voice:

As a verb, "building" changes with tenses: present ("I build"), past ("I built"), future ("I will build"), and progressive ("I am building"). In passive voice, it becomes "is being built" (e.g., "The building is being constructed"). This flexibility allows for nuanced expressions, such as in Thai where verb forms adapt to politeness levels (e.g., using "กำลังก่อสร้าง" for ongoing actions).

References

Etymology and History:

The word "building" originates from Old English "bold" or "byldan," meaning "to construct or form," evolving from Proto-Germanic roots related to "dwelling." Historically, it gained prominence during the Industrial Revolution, symbolizing urbanization. In Thai, "อาคาร" derives from Sanskrit influences through historical trade, reflecting cultural exchanges in Southeast Asia.

Literary References:

• From F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby": "The colossal building loomed over the city, a monument to wealth." This highlights "building" as a symbol of aspiration and excess, sourced from American literature (1925).
• From Thai literature in "Four Reigns" by Kukrit Pramoj: "The royal building stood as a testament to the kingdom's glory," illustrating cultural reverence for architecture in historical Thai narratives.