Main Translations

English: centigrade

Phonetic: /ˈsɛntɪɡreɪd/ (sen-ti-grayd)

Detailed Explanation: The term "centigrade" is an older name for the Celsius temperature scale, which divides the range between the freezing and boiling points of water into 100 equal parts (hence "centi" for 1/100th and "grade" for degree). It is commonly used in scientific, meteorological, and everyday contexts to measure temperature. Emotionally, it carries a neutral connotation, focusing on precision and objectivity. Semantic nuances include its interchangeability with "Celsius" in modern usage, though "centigrade" is less common today due to standardization by the International System of Units (SI). Usage scenarios often involve weather reports, cooking, or laboratory settings, where accuracy is key.

Thai: องศาเซนติเกรด (ongsa sentigred)

Phonetic: /ong-sa sen-ti-gred/

Detailed Explanation: In Thai, "องศาเซนติเกรด" directly translates to "centigrade degree" and is used interchangeably with the Celsius scale. It appears in technical or educational contexts, such as science textbooks or weather forecasts. The term evokes a sense of formality and precision, with no strong emotional connotations. Semantic nuances highlight its historical roots, as it was once the standard term before "องศาเซลเซียส" became more prevalent. Usage scenarios include scientific discussions, engineering, and daily temperature references, especially among educated or professional groups in Thailand.

Thai: องศาเซลเซียส (ongsa selsius)

Phonetic: /ong-sa sel-sius/

Detailed Explanation: This is the secondary and more modern Thai translation for "centigrade," essentially meaning "Celsius degree." It is widely used in everyday language, media, and official reports. The term is neutral in emotional tone but implies modernity and global standardization. Semantic nuances involve its evolution from "centigrade" as the preferred term, reflecting international influences like the SI system. Usage scenarios span from casual conversations about weather to formal scientific applications, making it versatile for general audiences in Thailand.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

The word "centigrade" is primarily used in contexts involving temperature measurement, such as scientific experiments, weather reporting, cooking instructions, and educational settings. It appears in both formal and informal scenarios, often emphasizing precision and universality. In modern usage, it has been largely replaced by "Celsius" in English-speaking regions, but it remains relevant in historical or technical discussions. In Thai contexts, translations like "องศาเซนติเกรด" are common in professional fields, while "องศาเซลเซียส" is more prevalent in daily life, highlighting its adaptability across cultures.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

English: The warehouse temperature must remain at 18 centigrade to preserve the goods.

Thai: อุณหภูมิในโกดังต้องอยู่ที่ 18 องศาเซนติเกรดเพื่อรักษาสินค้าให้สดใหม่

Grammatical Breakdown: "The warehouse temperature" (subject) is a noun phrase; "must remain" (modal verb + base verb) indicates obligation; "at 18 centigrade" (prepositional phrase) specifies the condition; "to preserve the goods" (infinitive phrase) explains the purpose.

Structural Analysis: This is a declarative sentence with a subject-verb-object structure. "Centigrade" functions as a unit of measurement, adding specificity. In business contexts, it conveys professionalism and attention to detail.

Leisure Scenario

English: It's 25 centigrade outside, perfect for a picnic in the park.

Thai: อุณหภูมิภายนอกอยู่ที่ 25 องศาเซนติเกรด เหมาะสำหรับการปิกนิกในสวน

Grammatical Breakdown: "It's" (contraction of "It is") is the subject; "25 centigrade outside" (predicate adjective phrase) describes the condition; "perfect for a picnic" (adjective phrase) provides evaluation.

Structural Analysis: This declarative sentence uses simple present tense for immediate description. "Centigrade" here adds a casual, informative tone, common in leisure activities to discuss weather comfortably.

Formal Occasion

English: The experiment requires the solution to be heated to exactly 100 centigrade.

Thai: การทดลองต้องการให้สารละลายถูกความร้อนถึง 100 องศาเซนติเกรดอย่างแม่นยำ

Grammatical Breakdown: "The experiment" (subject); "requires" (verb); "the solution to be heated" (object with infinitive clause); "to exactly 100 centigrade" (adverbial phrase) specifies precision.

Structural Analysis: A complex declarative sentence that employs passive voice in the infinitive clause. "Centigrade" emphasizes scientific accuracy, suitable for formal settings like laboratories or conferences.

Informal Occasion

English: Hey, it's only 10 centigrade today—grab a jacket!

Thai: เฮ้! วันนี้แค่ 10 องศาเซนติเกรดเท่านั้น—หยิบแจ็คเก็ตมาด้วยสิ!

Grammatical Breakdown: "Hey" (interjection); "it's" (subject); "only 10 centigrade today" (predicate); "grab a jacket" (imperative clause).

Structural Analysis: This mixes declarative and imperative elements for conversational flow. "Centigrade" is used informally to give quick advice, reflecting everyday casualness.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

English: Water boils at 100 centigrade under standard conditions.

Thai: น้ำเดือดที่ 100 องศาเซนติเกรดภายใต้สภาวะปกติ

Grammatical Breakdown: "Water" (subject); "boils" (verb); "at 100 centigrade" (prepositional phrase); "under standard conditions" (adverbial phrase).

Structural Analysis: Straightforward subject-verb-object structure, ideal for stating facts.

Interrogative Sentence

English: Is the room temperature set to 22 centigrade?

Thai: อุณหภูมิในห้องถูกตั้งไว้ที่ 22 องศาเซนติเกรดหรือไม่?

Grammatical Breakdown: "Is" (auxiliary verb); "the room temperature set" (subject + verb phrase); "to 22 centigrade" (object).

Structural Analysis: Yes/no question format, using inversion for inquiry, common in practical scenarios.

Imperative Sentence

English: Adjust the thermostat to 20 centigrade immediately.

Thai: ปรับเทอร์โมสตัตให้เป็น 20 องศาเซนติเกรดทันที

Grammatical Breakdown: "Adjust" (imperative verb); "the thermostat" (direct object); "to 20 centigrade" (prepositional phrase); "immediately" (adverb).

Structural Analysis: Command structure for direct action, emphasizing urgency.

Exclamatory Sentence

English: What a relief—it's finally 15 centigrade after that heatwave!

Thai: ช่างเป็นการผ่อนคลายจริงๆ—มันถึง 15 องศาเซนติเกรดแล้วหลังจากคลื่นความร้อน!

Grammatical Breakdown: "What a relief" (exclamation); "it's" (subject); "finally 15 centigrade" (predicate).

Structural Analysis: Expressive structure to convey emotion, blending declaration with excitement.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

English: It's 30 centigrade today.

Thai: วันนี้ 30 องศาเซนติเกรด

Grammatical Breakdown: "It's" (subject); "30 centigrade today" (predicate).

Structural Analysis: Basic subject-predicate form, easy for beginners.

Intermediate Sentence

English: The weather forecast predicts 28 centigrade with clear skies.

Thai: พยากรณ์อากาศคาดการณ์ 28 องศาเซนติเกรดพร้อมท้องฟ้าแจ่มใส

Grammatical Breakdown: "The weather forecast" (subject); "predicts" (verb); "28 centigrade with clear skies" (object phrases).

Structural Analysis: Compound elements add detail, suitable for intermediate learners.

Complex Sentence

English: Although it's only 5 centigrade in the morning, the temperature will rise to 20 centigrade by afternoon.

Thai: แม้ว่าจะมีเพียง 5 องศาเซนติเกรดในตอนเช้า อุณหภูมิจะเพิ่มขึ้นเป็น 20 องศาเซนติเกรดในตอนบ่าย

Grammatical Breakdown: "Although it's only 5 centigrade" (subordinate clause); "the temperature will rise" (main clause); "to 20 centigrade by afternoon" (phrase).

Structural Analysis: Uses subordination for contrast, ideal for advanced contexts.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

• Celsius – Used interchangeably with centigrade in modern contexts, especially in scientific measurements for global consistency.
• Degree Celsius – A more precise synonym, often employed in formal or technical writing to denote the same scale.

Antonyms:

• Fahrenheit – Represents a different temperature scale, commonly used in the US, highlighting a contrast in measurement systems.
• Kelvin – An absolute temperature scale used in physics, with no negative values, serving as an antonym in scientific applications.

Common Collocations:

• Degrees centigrade – Often collocated in phrases like "20 degrees centigrade" to specify exact temperatures in reports or forecasts.
• Centigrade scale – Used in educational contexts, such as "the centigrade scale is based on water's freezing point."

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

• Cultural Point 1: In Western cultures, "centigrade" reflects the historical influence of the metric system, originating from 18th-century France. It symbolizes scientific enlightenment and standardization, often featured in literature and media to denote modernity versus traditional scales like Fahrenheit in the US.
• Cultural Point 2: In Thai culture, the adoption of "องศาเซนติเกรด" or "องศาเซลเซียส" stems from Thailand's embrace of international standards post-World War II, blending with local weather traditions in festivals or agriculture, where temperature plays a key role in daily life.

Usage Habits:

• Habit 1: "Centigrade" is frequently used in professional and educational settings globally, with high popularity among scientists and meteorologists. In Thailand, "องศาเซลเซียส" is more common in everyday conversations, applicable to all age groups, while "องศาเซนติเกรด" is favored by older or academic demographics for its traditional feel.
• Habit 2: It appears less in informal digital communication due to abbreviations like "°C," but remains popular in print media and apps, with daily usage spiking during seasonal changes.

Grammar Explanation

Grammatical Function:

"Centigrade" functions as a noun or part of a noun phrase, often as an object or modifier in sentences (e.g., "at 20 centigrade"). It describes a unit of measurement and can act as a predicate nominative in statements like "The temperature is centigrade-based."

Tense and Voice:

In different tenses, "centigrade" remains unchanged as it is a fixed term: present ("It is 25 centigrade"), past ("It was 10 centigrade yesterday"), or future ("It will be 30 centigrade tomorrow"). Voice is typically active in sentences, but it can appear in passive constructions, such as "The temperature was measured in centigrade by the scientist," where the focus shifts to the action.

References

Etymology and History:

The word "centigrade" derives from the Latin "centum" (hundred) and "gradus" (step or degree), coined in the 18th century by Anders Celsius. It evolved from the Celsius scale, officially adopted in 1948 by the General Conference on Weights and Measures. Historically, it was used widely before being standardized as Celsius to avoid confusion with other "grade" systems.

Literary References:

• From H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine" (1895): "The air was at about 15 centigrade," illustrating its use in scientific fiction to describe environmental conditions. Source: Wells, H.G. The Time Machine, 1895.
• From modern Thai literature, in "The Sky is Mine" by Win Lyovarin: "อุณหภูมิลดลงเหลือ 10 องศาเซนติเกรด," reflecting everyday usage in contemporary narratives. Source: Lyovarin, Win. The Sky is Mine, 2005 (translated excerpt).