BaanWords

constitution

รัฐธรรมนูญ - Thai translation

Main Translations

  • English: Constitution
  • Thai: รัฐธรรมนูญ (Primary Translation 1)
  • Phonetic: Rát-thá-tham-má-nùn (approximated Romanization)
  • Detailed Explanation: The term "รัฐธรรมนูญ" is primarily used in legal, political, and governmental contexts to refer to a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or organization is governed. It carries a formal and authoritative connotation, often evoking emotions of national pride, stability, or controversy in regions with political turbulence. Semantic nuances include its role as a supreme law that outlines rights, duties, and structures of power, making it essential in discussions about democracy, human rights, and governance. Usage scenarios include legal debates, educational settings, and public policy discussions.
  • Thai: กายวิภาค (Secondary Translation 2)
  • Phonetic: Gài-wí-phàk (approximated Romanization)
  • Detailed Explanation: This translation refers to the physical or biological makeup of an entity, such as the human body or an organism. It has a neutral to scientific connotation, often used in medical, health, or biological contexts without strong emotional undertones. Semantic nuances highlight its focus on structure, composition, and resilience, contrasting with the legal sense. Usage scenarios include health discussions, fitness advice, or scientific explanations, where it might describe someone's physical constitution or endurance.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

The word "constitution" is versatile and appears in various contexts, primarily legal and political (e.g., national or organizational frameworks), biological and health-related (e.g., physical makeup), and metaphorical uses (e.g., in business or personal development). In English and Thai, it is most common in formal settings like government documents, educational materials, or medical reports. Its usage often reflects cultural values such as rule of law in politics or personal resilience in health, with nuances varying by region—e.g., in Thailand, it may carry historical sensitivity due to political changes.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

  • English: The company's constitution clearly defines the roles of shareholders and board members.
  • Thai: รัฐธรรมนูญของบริษัทกำหนดบทบาทของผู้ถือหุ้นและคณะกรรมการอย่างชัดเจน
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "The company's constitution" (subject, noun phrase) acts as the main topic; "clearly defines" (verb phrase in present tense) describes the action; "the roles of shareholders and board members" (object, noun phrase) specifies what is defined. In Thai, "รัฐธรรมนูญของบริษัท" is the subject, "กำหนด" is the verb, and "บทบาทของผู้ถือหุ้นและคณะกรรมการอย่างชัดเจน" is the object with an adverbial modifier.
  • Structural Analysis: This sentence follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) structure in English, emphasizing clarity and formality. In Thai, it maintains a similar SVO order but incorporates classifiers and modifiers for precision, making it suitable for professional documents where hierarchy and rules are key.

Leisure Scenario

  • English: During our hike, I realized my constitution wasn't as strong as I thought.
  • Thai: ในระหว่างการเดินป่า ฉันรู้ว่ากายวิภาคของฉันไม่แข็งแกร่งอย่างที่คิด
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "During our hike" (prepositional phrase, adverbial) sets the time; "I realized" (subject-verb) is the main clause; "my constitution wasn't as strong as I thought" (object clause) uses a comparative structure. In Thai, "ในระหว่างการเดินป่า" is the adverbial phrase, "ฉันรู้ว่า" is the main clause, and "กายวิภาคของฉันไม่แข็งแกร่งอย่างที่คิด" includes a comparative element.
  • Structural Analysis: The sentence is compound in English, blending narrative with self-reflection. Thai structure is more linear, using connectors for flow, which is ideal for casual conversations about personal experiences in leisure activities.

Formal Occasion

  • English: The constitution of the nation ensures equal rights for all citizens.
  • Thai: รัฐธรรมนูญของชาติรับรองสิทธิเท่าเทียมสำหรับประชาชนทุกคน
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "The constitution of the nation" (subject, noun phrase); "ensures" (verb, present tense); "equal rights for all citizens" (object, noun phrase). In Thai, "รัฐธรรมนูญของชาติ" is the subject, "รับรอง" is the verb, and "สิทธิเท่าเทียมสำหรับประชาชนทุกคน" is the object.
  • Structural Analysis: This declarative sentence uses a simple SVO structure for emphasis on legal authority. In Thai, it employs formal vocabulary to convey respect and gravity, common in speeches or official events.

Informal Occasion

  • English: My friend's constitution lets him eat anything without getting sick.
  • Thai: กายวิภาคของเพื่อนฉันทำให้เขากินอะไรก็ได้โดยไม่ป่วย
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "My friend's constitution" (subject); "lets him" (verb phrase); "eat anything without getting sick" (infinitive phrase as object). In Thai, "กายวิภาคของเพื่อนฉัน" is the subject, "ทำให้เขา" is the verb phrase, and "กินอะไรก็ได้โดยไม่ป่วย" is the object clause.
  • Structural Analysis: Informal English uses contractions and casual phrasing. Thai mirrors this with everyday language, making it suitable for friendly chats about health.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

  • English: The constitution protects basic human rights.
  • Thai: รัฐธรรมนูญปกป้องสิทธิขั้นพื้นฐานของมนุษย์
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "The constitution" (subject); "protects" (verb); "basic human rights" (object). Thai follows: subject-verb-object.
  • Structural Analysis: Straightforward SVO, used for stating facts.

Interrogative Sentence

  • English: Does the constitution allow for amendments?
  • Thai: รัฐธรรมนูญอนุญาตให้มีการแก้ไขหรือไม่
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Does" (auxiliary verb for question); "the constitution allow" (subject-verb); "for amendments" (prepositional phrase). Thai uses inversion with "หรือไม่" for questioning.
  • Structural Analysis: Inverted structure in English; Thai relies on question particles for inquiry in debates.

Imperative Sentence

  • English: Study the constitution before the exam.
  • Thai: ศึกษาเรื่องรัฐธรรมนูญก่อนสอบ
  • Grammatical Breakdown: Implied subject ("you"); "Study" (verb); "the constitution before the exam" (object phrase). Thai omits the subject similarly.
  • Structural Analysis: Command form for directives, urging action.

Exclamatory Sentence

  • English: What a strong constitution you have!
  • Thai: กายวิภาคของคุณแข็งแกร่งจริงๆ!
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "What a strong constitution" (exclamation phrase); "you have" (subject-verb). Thai uses intensifiers like "จริงๆ".
  • Structural Analysis: Emphasizes emotion; Thai adds exclamation for emphasis in casual expressions.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

  • English: The constitution is important.
  • Thai: รัฐธรรมนูญสำคัญมาก
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "The constitution" (subject); "is" (verb); "important" (predicate adjective).
  • Structural Analysis: Basic SVO for beginners.

Intermediate Sentence

  • English: Our constitution guarantees freedom of speech.
  • Thai: รัฐธรรมนูญของเรารับรองสิทธิเสรีภาพในการพูด
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Our constitution" (subject); "guarantees" (verb); "freedom of speech" (object).
  • Structural Analysis: Introduces possessive and abstract nouns.

Complex Sentence

  • English: Although the constitution was written centuries ago, it still influences modern laws.
  • Thai: แม้ว่ารัฐธรรมนูญจะถูกเขียนขึ้นเมื่อหลายศตวรรษก่อน แต่ก็ยังมีอิทธิพลต่อกฎหมายสมัยใหม่
  • Grammatical Breakdown: Subordinate clause ("Although...ago") + main clause ("it still influences..."). Thai uses conjunctions for subordination.
  • Structural Analysis: Complex with clauses, suitable for advanced discussions.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

  • Fundamental law – Used interchangeably with "constitution" in legal contexts to denote core principles.
  • Charter – Refers to a formal document outlining rights, often with a historical connotation.

Antonyms:

  • Anarchy – Represents the absence of a constitution or governing structure, implying chaos.
  • Dictatorship – Contrasts by suggesting rule without constitutional checks and balances.

Common Collocations:

  • Constitutional rights – Refers to inherent protections, commonly used in human rights discussions.
  • Constitutional crisis – Describes a situation of conflict, often in political contexts, highlighting instability.

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

  • Cultural Point 1: In Thailand, "รัฐธรรมนูญ" is deeply tied to the country's political history, with multiple constitutions drafted since 1932 due to coups and reforms. It symbolizes national identity and democracy but can evoke sensitivity, as changes often reflect power struggles, making it a topic in cultural education and media.

Usage Habits:

  • Habit 1: "Constitution" is frequently used in formal and educational settings in Thailand, with high popularity among legal professionals, students, and politicians. It is less common in everyday informal talk, applicable mainly to adults and educated groups, due to its technical nature.

Grammar Explanation

  • Grammatical Function: "Constitution" functions as a noun, serving as a subject, object, or complement in sentences (e.g., subject in "The constitution protects rights").
  • Tense and Voice: As a noun, it doesn't change tenses directly but appears in various verb constructions (e.g., active voice: "The constitution defines laws"). In passive voice, it might be: "Laws are defined by the constitution."

References

Etymology and History:

The word "constitution" originates from the Latin "constitutio," meaning "act of establishing" or "regulation," evolving through Old French to English by the 14th century. In Thai, "รัฐธรรมนูญ" combines "รัฐ" (state) and "ธรรมนูญ" (law or decree), influenced by Western legal concepts during the 19th-century reforms under King Chulalongkorn.

Literary References:

  • From James Madison's Federalist Papers (1787): "The Constitution is the supreme law of the land." This highlights its foundational role in U.S. democracy.
  • In Thai literature, from the preamble of Thailand's 2017 Constitution: "This Constitution is the supreme law of the Kingdom," emphasizing its cultural and legal significance in modern Thai society.