Main Translations

English: Craze

Thai: กระแส (Kra-sae)

Phonetic: Kra-sae

Detailed Explanation: The word "craze" primarily refers to a temporary enthusiasm, fad, or widespread excitement about something, often short-lived and driven by social trends. In Thai, "กระแส" captures this nuance as a "wave" or "current" of popularity, implying a collective emotional surge. Usage scenarios include cultural phenomena like viral trends or hobbies that gain rapid attention. Emotionally, it conveys excitement and novelty but can also hint at irrationality or fleetingness. For example, in modern contexts, it might describe a social media challenge that sweeps through communities, evoking positive energy but with a subtle undertone of impermanence.

Thai: ความคลั่งไคล้ (Kwahm klang klai)

Phonetic: Kwahm klang klai

Detailed Explanation: As a secondary translation, "ความคลั่งไคล้" emphasizes the obsessive or manic aspect of "craze," focusing on intense, almost uncontrollable passion. This term is used in scenarios involving deep emotional investment, such as fandoms or addictions. Semantically, it adds a layer of intensity compared to "กระแส," with emotional connotations of fervor and potential negativity if the obsession becomes unhealthy. For instance, it might describe a celebrity craze where fans exhibit extreme devotion, highlighting nuances of admiration mixed with risk of excess.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

The word "craze" is versatile and appears in everyday contexts, often describing temporary social phenomena. Its main usage scenarios include business (e.g., product trends), leisure (e.g., hobbies or entertainment), formal occasions (e.g., professional discussions on market trends), and informal settings (e.g., casual conversations about pop culture). It typically functions as a noun, conveying excitement, transience, and collective behavior, making it relevant in dynamic, modern environments like social media or global trends.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

English: The latest craze in e-commerce is virtual reality shopping experiences.

Thai: กระแสล่าสุดในอีคอมเมิร์ซคือประสบการณ์ช็อปปิ้งด้วยความเป็นจริงเสมือน (Kra-sae la-sut nai ee-kom-meirt keu bpra-sop-gaan chop-ping duay kwahm pen jing seum-wan).

Grammatical Breakdown: "The latest" (determiner + adjective) modifies "craze" (noun), which is the subject. "In e-commerce" is a prepositional phrase providing context, and "is virtual reality shopping experiences" is a predicate nominative describing the subject.

Structural Analysis: This sentence follows a subject-verb-complement structure (S-V-C), common in business English for stating facts. The noun "craze" acts as the focus, emphasizing trends in a professional context.

Leisure Scenario

English: Binge-watching TV series has become a craze among teenagers during the pandemic.

Thai: การดูซีรีส์แบบมาราธอนกลายเป็นกระแสในหมู่วัยรุ่นช่วงการระบาดใหญ่ (Gahn doo see-reees baep ma-raa-thon glai pen kra-sae nai muer wai-run chud gahn ra-baat yai).

Grammatical Breakdown: "Binge-watching TV series" is a gerund phrase acting as the subject. "Has become" is the verb phrase in present perfect tense, and "a craze among teenagers during the pandemic" is a predicate nominative with prepositional phrases for specification.

Structural Analysis: The sentence uses a compound structure to show progression (gerund as subject), ideal for leisure discussions where "craze" highlights informal, enjoyable trends.

Formal Occasion

English: Experts predict that the electric vehicle craze will reshape the automotive industry.

Thai: ผู้เชี่ยวชาญคาดการณ์ว่ากระแสรถยนต์ไฟฟ้าจะเปลี่ยนแปลงอุตสาหกรรมยานยนต์ (Poo chiew-chaan kaat-gaan waa kra-sae rot-yon-fai faa ja plian-plaang ut-sa-hah-grim yaa-yon-yon).

Grammatical Breakdown: "Experts" is the subject, "predict" is the verb, and "that the electric vehicle craze will reshape the automotive industry" is a subordinate clause. "Craze" functions as a noun object within the clause.

Structural Analysis: This complex sentence (main clause + subordinate clause) suits formal settings, where "craze" denotes a significant trend with future implications.

Informal Occasion

English: Have you heard about the new dance craze on TikTok? It's hilarious!

Thai: คุณได้ยินเกี่ยวกับกระแสเต้นใหม่บน TikTok ไหม? มันตลกมาก! (Khun dai yin gwaang kra-sae dtên mai bon TikTok mai? Man dtalok mak!)

Grammatical Breakdown: "Have you heard" is an interrogative structure with "about the new dance craze on TikTok" as the object phrase. "It's hilarious!" is an exclamatory addition.

Structural Analysis: The sentence blends interrogative and exclamatory forms for casual conversation, with "craze" used informally to spark interest in social trends.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

English: Social media drives the latest craze in fashion trends.

Thai: สื่อสังคมออนไลน์ขับเคลื่อนกระแสล่าสุดในเทรนด์แฟชั่น (Suer sang-khom on-line khaap-kleun kra-sae la-sut nai trend fash-ahn).

Grammatical Breakdown: "Social media" is the subject, "drives" is the verb, and "the latest craze in fashion trends" is the object phrase.

Structural Analysis: A straightforward S-V-O structure, declarative sentences like this state facts about "craze" in everyday use.

Interrogative Sentence

English: Is this fitness craze going to last beyond the summer?

Thai: กระแสออกกำลังกายนี้จะอยู่ได้นานกว่าฤดูร้อนหรือไม่? (Kra-sae ork gam-lang-gai nee ja yoo dai naan gwà rao-ron reu mai?)

Grammatical Breakdown: "Is this fitness craze going to last" is the main clause, with "beyond the summer" as a prepositional phrase, ending in a question tag.

Structural Analysis: This yes/no interrogative structure engages the audience, using "craze" to question the temporality of trends.

Imperative Sentence

English: Don't miss out on the cryptocurrency craze; invest wisely!

Thai: อย่าพลาดกระแสคริปโทเคอร์เรนซี; ลงทุนอย่างฉลาด! (Yàh plàat kra-sae crip-to-ker-ren-see; long-tun yang chanlàat!)

Grammatical Breakdown: "Don't miss out" is the imperative verb phrase, with "on the cryptocurrency craze" as the object.

Structural Analysis: Imperatives command action, positioning "craze" as an opportunity in motivational contexts.

Exclamatory Sentence

English: What a craze this new video game has created among gamers!

Thai: ช่างเป็นกระแสอะไรเช่นนี้สำหรับเกมเมอร์! (Chang pen kra-sae a-rai chen nee sa-ngop game-mer!)

Grammatical Breakdown: "What a craze" is an exclamatory phrase, with "this new video game has created among gamers" as the main clause.

Structural Analysis: Exclamatory sentences amplify emotion, using "craze" to express surprise or enthusiasm.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

English: The dance craze is popular.

Thai: กระแสเต้นเป็นที่นิยม (Kra-sae dtên pen tee ni-yom).

Grammatical Breakdown: "The dance craze" is the subject, "is" is the verb, and "popular" is the predicate adjective.

Structural Analysis: A basic S-V-A structure, suitable for beginners learning "craze" as a simple noun.

Intermediate Sentence

English: Although it's just a craze, many people are investing in it heavily.

Thai: แม้ว่ามันจะเป็นแค่กระแส แต่หลายคนก็ลงทุนในมันอย่างหนัก (Mae wa ma ja pen kae kra-sae tae la-ay khon gaw long-tun nai man yang nak).

Grammatical Breakdown: "Although it's just a craze" is a subordinate clause, and "many people are investing in it heavily" is the main clause.

Structural Analysis: This compound sentence builds complexity, showing "craze" in conditional contexts.

Complex Sentence

English: Because the social media craze has influenced global behavior, companies are adapting their marketing strategies accordingly.

Thai: เนื่องจากกระแสสื่อสังคมออนไลน์ได้ส่งผลต่อพฤติกรรมทั่วโลก บริษัทจึงปรับกลยุทธ์การตลาดให้สอดคล้อง (Neung jaak kra-sae sue sang-khom on-line dai song pha tor phrit-ti-gam thuad lok, baan-ra-baw jing bpàt gla-yut gaang talat hai sot-khlong).

Grammatical Breakdown: "Because the social media craze has influenced global behavior" is a dependent clause, and "companies are adapting their marketing strategies accordingly" is the independent clause.

Structural Analysis: A multi-clause structure demonstrates advanced use of "craze" in cause-effect scenarios.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

• Fad – A short-lived trend, often used interchangeably with "craze" in casual contexts to describe passing interests.
• Mania – Implies a more intense obsession, similar to "craze" but with stronger emotional connotations, e.g., in fan culture.

Antonyms:

• Normality – Refers to standard or routine behavior, contrasting "craze" by lacking excitement or transience.
• Routine – Suggests predictability and stability, opposing the unpredictable nature of a "craze."

Common Collocations:

• Craze for something – Used to express enthusiasm, e.g., "a craze for healthy eating," indicating a widespread passion.
• Latest craze – Highlights newness, e.g., "the latest craze in technology," emphasizing current trends.

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

• Cultural Point 1: In Western cultures, "craze" often ties to consumerism and pop culture, such as the hula hoop craze of the 1950s or recent K-pop crazes, reflecting society's love for novelty and shared experiences. In Thai culture, it aligns with "กระแสสังคม" (social waves), where trends like street food or festivals gain rapid popularity, symbolizing community bonding and the influence of globalization.

Usage Habits:

• Habit 1: "Craze" is frequently used in informal digital communication, especially among younger demographics on platforms like TikTok, making it highly popular in urban areas. In Thailand, it's common in everyday Thai speech for describing viral trends, with high frequency in media and social contexts.

Grammar Explanation

Grammatical Function: "Craze" primarily functions as a countable noun, serving as a subject, object, or part of a phrase (e.g., "the craze swept the nation"). It can also be modified by adjectives for description.

Tense and Voice: As a noun, "craze" doesn't change tenses directly but appears in various verb tenses through associated actions (e.g., "was a craze" in past tense). In passive voice, it might feature in sentences like "The craze was driven by social media," where the focus shifts to the phenomenon.

References

Etymology and History:

The word "craze" originates from Middle English "crase," meaning to break or shatter, evolving in the 16th century to denote mental disturbance or temporary madness. By the 19th century, it shifted to mean a fad, influenced by cultural shifts like industrialization and mass media, making it a key term for modern trends.

Literary References:

• In F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," the phrase "a wild, blatant thing" indirectly echoes a craze, referring to the Jazz Age's excesses (source: The Great Gatsby, 1925).
• Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" describes fads like treasure hunting as a "craze among boys," illustrating youthful obsessions (source: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, 1876).