Main Translations

English: carat

Thai: กะรัต (karat)

Phonetic: ka-ràt (pronounced with a rising tone on the second syllable, as in "ka" like "car" and "ràt" like "rat").

Detailed Explanation: In English, "carat" refers to a unit of weight for gemstones (e.g., diamonds), where 1 carat equals 200 milligrams, or to the measure of gold purity (e.g., 24 carat for pure gold). It conveys connotations of value, rarity, and luxury, often used in commercial or appraisal contexts. Emotionally, it evokes excitement or aspiration in jewelry discussions. Semantically, it emphasizes precision and quality. In Thai, "กะรัต" is directly borrowed and used similarly, especially in trade and everyday conversations about gold and gems. It carries cultural nuances of wealth and status, with scenarios like bargaining in markets adding a practical, transactional tone.

Thai: (Secondary Translation) รัตนชาติหน่วย (rattanachat neung)

Phonetic: ràt-tan-chàt nəəng (pronounced with a mid tone, less common than "กะรัต").

Detailed Explanation: This less frequent Thai term translates to "gemstone unit" and is used in formal or technical contexts, such as gemology reports. It highlights the measurement aspect without the direct borrowing from English. Emotionally, it feels more academic and detached compared to "กะรัต," which is more colloquial. Semantically, it emphasizes the scientific side of gem evaluation, often in educational or professional settings, and is less emotionally charged than the primary term.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

The word "carat" is primarily used in contexts involving commerce, luxury goods, and appraisals. It appears in business negotiations for jewelry, casual leisure talks about personal accessories, formal evaluations in auctions, and informal daily conversations. Its usage scenarios often highlight value assessment, with emotional undertones of desirability in cultural or social settings, making it a key term in industries like fashion and finance.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

English: The jeweler appraised the necklace at 5 carats of diamonds.

Thai: ช่างเพชรประเมินสร้อยคอนี้ที่ 5 กะรัตของเพชร

Grammatical Breakdown: "The jeweler" (subject, noun phrase); "appraised" (verb, past tense); "the necklace" (direct object, noun); "at 5 carats of diamonds" (prepositional phrase modifying the verb, with "carats" as a noun indicating quantity).

Structural Analysis: This is a declarative sentence with a subject-verb-object structure. It uses simple past tense for reporting an action, common in business contexts to convey factual information professionally.

Leisure Scenario

English: I bought a ring with a beautiful 1-carat sapphire for my anniversary.

Thai: ฉันซื้อแหวนที่มีทับทิมสวยงาม 1 กะรัตสำหรับวันครบรอบ

Grammatical Breakdown: "I" (subject, pronoun); "bought" (verb, past tense); "a ring with a beautiful 1-carat sapphire" (object, noun phrase); "for my anniversary" (prepositional phrase indicating purpose).

Structural Analysis: A declarative sentence in active voice, structured as subject-verb-object. It incorporates descriptive adjectives ("beautiful") for emotional appeal, typical in leisure contexts to express personal enjoyment.

Formal Occasion

English: During the auction, the 3-carat emerald fetched a high bid.

Thai: ในงานประมูล เพชร 3 กะรัตได้รับราคาเสนอสูง

Grammatical Breakdown: "During the auction" (adverbial phrase); "the 3-carat emerald" (subject, noun phrase); "fetched" (verb, past tense); "a high bid" (object, noun phrase).

Structural Analysis: This declarative sentence follows a time-phrase-subject-verb-object pattern, using past tense for narrative in formal settings. It emphasizes precision in measurement ("3-carat") to highlight value.

Informal Occasion

English: Wow, that bracelet has a huge 2-carat stone—it's stunning!

Thai: โอ้โห สร้อยข้อมือนี้มีหินใหญ่ 2 กะรัต—สวยมาก!

Grammatical Breakdown: "Wow" (interjection); "that bracelet" (subject, noun phrase); "has" (verb, present tense); "a huge 2-carat stone" (object, noun phrase); "it's stunning" (predicate adjective clause).

Structural Analysis: An exclamatory-declarative hybrid, with informal language and adjectives for emphasis. The structure builds excitement, common in casual conversations to express admiration.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

English: This diamond ring is exactly 1.2 carats.

Thai: แหวนเพชรนี้มีน้ำหนักอย่างแม่นยำ 1.2 กะรัต

Grammatical Breakdown: "This diamond ring" (subject); "is" (linking verb); "exactly 1.2 carats" (predicate nominative).

Structural Analysis: Straightforward subject-verb-complement structure in present tense, used to state facts clearly.

Interrogative Sentence

English: Is this gemstone really 4 carats?

Thai: เพชรนี้มีน้ำหนักจริงๆ 4 กะรัตหรือไม่?

Grammatical Breakdown: "Is" (auxiliary verb); "this gemstone" (subject); "really 4 carats" (predicate); "or not" (tag question).

Structural Analysis: Inverted structure (verb-subject) for questions, promoting inquiry in discussions.

Imperative Sentence

English: Check the carat weight before buying the jewelry.

Thai: ตรวจสอบน้ำหนักกะรัตก่อนซื้อเครื่องประดับ

Grammatical Breakdown: "Check" (imperative verb); "the carat weight" (direct object); "before buying the jewelry" (subordinate clause).

Structural Analysis: Command form with an infinitive phrase, urging action in advisory contexts.

Exclamatory Sentence

English: What a magnificent 10-carat diamond that is!

Thai: เพชร 10 กะรัตที่สวยงามอะไรอย่างนั้น!

Grammatical Breakdown: "What a magnificent 10-carat diamond" (exclamation phrase); "that is" (verb clause).

Structural Analysis: Uses an introductory exclamatory phrase for emphasis, conveying strong emotion.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

English: The gold is 24 carats pure.

Thai: ทองนี้บริสุทธิ์ 24 กะรัต

Grammatical Breakdown: "The gold" (subject); "is" (verb); "24 carats pure" (predicate).

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

Intermediate Sentence

English: Although it's only 0.5 carats, the diamond sparkles brightly.

Thai: แม้ว่าจะมีน้ำหนักเพียง 0.5 กะรัต เพชรก็ส่องแสงสว่าง

Grammatical Breakdown: "Although it's only 0.5 carats" (subordinate clause); "the diamond sparkles brightly" (main clause).

Structural Analysis: Compound structure with a concessive clause, adding complexity for intermediate learners.

Complex Sentence

English: Because the ring's carat exceeds 2, it requires special certification for export.

Thai: เนื่องจากน้ำหนักกะรัตของแหวนเกิน 2 มันจึงต้องมีใบรับรองพิเศษสำหรับการส่งออก

Grammatical Breakdown: "Because the ring's carat exceeds 2" (dependent clause); "it requires special certification for export" (independent clause).

Structural Analysis: Multi-clause structure with subordination, suitable for advanced contexts like legal or business discussions.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

• Karat (for gold purity): Often used interchangeably with "carat" in gold contexts; e.g., "18 karat gold" means 75% pure, emphasizing quality in jewelry sales.
• Gem weight unit: A broader term for measurement systems; used in technical appraisals to describe carat as part of standardized units.

Antonyms:

• Gram or ounce: Refers to larger weight units; e.g., "This metal is measured in grams, not carats," highlighting less precise or non-gem contexts.
• Imitation or synthetic: Implies non-authentic gems; e.g., "This is a synthetic stone, not a natural carat diamond," contrasting real value.

Common Collocations:

• Carat weight: Refers to the mass of a gem; e.g., "Check the carat weight for authenticity," commonly used in appraisals.
• Pure carat gold: Indicates high-purity metal; e.g., "This necklace is made of pure carat gold," popular in cultural or commercial phrases.

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

• Cultural Point 1: In Thai culture, "carat" (or "กะรัต") is deeply tied to traditions like weddings and festivals, where gold jewelry symbolizes prosperity and social status. For instance, in Thai weddings, a bride's gold items are often evaluated by carat to assess family wealth, reflecting historical influences from trade routes.

Usage Habits:

• Habit 1: "Carat" is frequently used in urban areas like Bangkok's jewelry markets, with high popularity among merchants and consumers. It's more common in middle-aged and older demographics for investments, but less so in youth culture, appearing in about 20-30% of daily luxury conversations based on market trends.

Grammar Explanation

Grammatical Function:

"Carat" functions primarily as a noun, serving as a subject, object, or modifier in sentences (e.g., "The carat determines the value"). It can also act as part of a compound noun phrase, like "carat diamond," without changing form.

Tense and Voice:

As a noun, "carat" does not inflect for tense. However, it appears in various sentence voices: active (e.g., "We measured the carat") or passive (e.g., "The carat was verified"). In passive constructions, it often pairs with verbs like "appraised" to emphasize the object, as in "The diamond's carat was confirmed."

References

Etymology and History:

The word "carat" originates from the Greek "keration," meaning a carob seed, used as a weight standard in ancient times. It evolved through Arabic ("qirat") and French influences, entering English in the 16th century. In Thai, "กะรัต" was adopted during the 19th-century trade expansions, reflecting global commerce's impact on language.

Literary References:

• From F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby": "He had a chain of solid silver and diamond beads... each bead a full carat," illustrating wealth and excess in American literature (1925).
• In Thai literature, from "Four Reigns" by Kukrit Pramoj: "The queen's necklace gleamed with กะรัต pearls," symbolizing royal heritage and cultural value (translated excerpt, 1953).