Main Translations

English: Deleterious

Thai Primary Translation: เป็นอันตราย (Bpen an-ta-rai)

Phonetic: Bpen an-ta-rai (The "bpen" is pronounced with a soft "p" sound, like "bpen," and "an-ta-rai" flows smoothly with emphasis on the second syllable of "an-ta-rai.")

Explanation: In Thai culture, "เป็นอันตราย" is a versatile phrase that directly translates to "harmful" or "dangerous," capturing the essence of something that causes subtle or long-term damage. It often evokes a sense of caution and urgency, rooted in Thailand's collectivist society where community well-being is prioritized. Emotionally, it carries negative connotations, similar to how English speakers might feel about words like "toxic," prompting immediate action or avoidance. Thai people commonly use this term in daily life—for instance, when warning about the health risks of street food additives in bustling markets or the environmental impact of deforestation in rural areas. Unlike more neutral terms, it has a preventive undertone, influenced by Buddhist principles of mindfulness and harm reduction. Secondary translations include "มีผลเสีย" (Mee phon sia, meaning "having harmful effects") for contexts emphasizing outcomes, or "ก่อให้เกิดโทษ" (Koh hai geert thot, implying "causing damage") in legal or formal settings.

Usage Overview

In Thailand, "เป็นอันตราย" is frequently used across various scenarios to highlight risks, making it a staple in conversations about health, environment, and daily safety. Urban dwellers in Bangkok might employ it in fast-paced discussions about air pollution or workplace hazards, reflecting the city's modern challenges. In contrast, people in rural areas like Chiang Mai often tie it to agricultural issues, such as pesticide use on farms, where the word underscores traditional concerns for nature and sustainability. Overall, this term bridges formal and informal speech, adapting seamlessly to both educated, urban contexts and community-based rural dialogues, emphasizing Thailand's balance between tradition and progress.

Example Sentences

Below, we've selected three relevant examples to illustrate how "deleterious" (or its Thai equivalent) appears in everyday Thai life. These scenarios focus on practical, real-world applications, drawing from common experiences in Thailand to aid your language learning.

Everyday Conversation

English: Eating too much processed food can be deleterious to your health in the long run.

Thai: การกินอาหารแปรรูปมากเกินไปอาจเป็นอันตรายต่อสุขภาพในระยะยาว (Kan gin ahan bpray-roop mak geern pai at bpen an-ta-rai tor sukhaphap nai ra-ya yaow).

Brief Notes: This sentence is perfect for casual chats, like at a family dinner in Bangkok, where Thais might discuss health trends. It highlights the word's subtle harm aspect, and in Thai culture, such warnings often come with advice on natural alternatives, like fresh fruits, to promote balance and well-being.

Business Context

English: The deleterious effects of air pollution on our supply chain could impact our company's profitability.

Thai: ผลกระทบที่เป็นอันตรายจากมลพิษทางอากาศต่อห่วงโซ่อุปทานของเราอาจส่งผลต่อกำไรของบริษัท (Pon kra-thop thi bpen an-ta-rai jaak mol-phit thang a-kat tor weung sao a-pun khong rao at song pon tor kam-rai khong bor-ri-sat).

Usage Context: You'd hear this in a Bangkok business meeting, perhaps during sustainability discussions in industries like manufacturing. In Thailand's corporate world, using this phrase shows foresight and responsibility, aligning with growing eco-awareness, but it's best paired with solutions to maintain a positive, collaborative tone.

Practical Travel Phrase

English: Be careful with that street vendor's food; it might be deleterious if not handled properly.

Thai: ระวังอาหารของพ่อค้าขายข้างถนนนะ มันอาจเป็นอันตรายถ้าไม่จัดการอย่างถูกต้อง (Ra-wang ahan khong phor-kha khai khang than na, man at bpen an-ta-rai taa mai jing-jang yang thuk-tong).

Travel Tip: When exploring Thailand's vibrant street food scenes in places like Chiang Mai's night markets, this phrase can help you politely decline risky options. Thais appreciate courteous warnings, so follow up with a smile and a suggestion for safer choices, like grilled skewers from trusted stalls, to avoid offending vendors and blend in culturally.

Related Expressions

Expanding your vocabulary with synonyms and collocations can make your Thai conversations more nuanced and natural. Here's how "เป็นอันตราย" connects to other terms commonly used in Thailand.

Synonyms/Related Terms:

• เป็นพิษ (Bpen phit) - Use this when referring to something poisonous or toxic, like chemicals in food, which is common in discussions about environmental health in Thailand's agricultural regions.
• ก่อความเสียหาย (Koh khwam siad hai) - This is ideal for contexts involving physical or emotional damage, such as in media reports about natural disasters, reflecting Thailand's frequent monsoon-related challenges.

Common Collocations:

• ผลกระทบที่เป็นอันตราย (Pon kra-thop thi bpen an-ta-rai) - Often used in environmental talks, like warning about the deleterious effects of plastic waste on Thailand's beaches, as seen in community clean-up events.
• พฤติกรรมที่เป็นอันตราย (Phruek-tibam thi bpen an-ta-rai) - This appears in health campaigns, such as advising against risky driving behaviors in Bangkok's traffic, emphasizing prevention in daily life.

Cultural Notes

Thai Cultural Perspective: In Thailand, words like "เป็นอันตราย" are deeply intertwined with the country's Buddhist-influenced values, where avoiding harm (both to oneself and others) is a core principle, as seen in the concept of "metta" or loving-kindness. Historically, this term gained prominence during environmental movements, like the fight against deforestation in the 1980s, symbolizing threats to Thailand's natural harmony. Socially, it's used to foster community awareness, such as in rural festivals where elders warn about seasonal dangers, blending superstition with practical advice. Interestingly, in urban settings, it often appears in public health campaigns, reflecting Thailand's proactive approach to issues like air quality in Bangkok.

Practical Advice: For foreigners, use "เป็นอันตราย" in formal or advisory contexts to show respect and cultural sensitivity—avoid it in light-hearted chats to prevent alarming others. A common etiquette tip is to soften the phrase with "โปรดระวัง" (Proht ra-wang, meaning "please be careful") to maintain the Thai emphasis on politeness. Misuses, like overusing it in casual settings, might come across as overly dramatic, so observe how locals pair it with positive suggestions for better integration.

Practical Tips

Memory Aid: To remember "เป็นอันตราย," think of it as "danger alert"—the word "an-ta-rai" sounds a bit like "antenna radar," evoking a warning signal. Visually, picture a red stop sign in a Thai market, linking it to everyday safety cues, which can make pronunciation and usage stick faster during your travels.

Dialect Variations: While Standard Thai is widely used, pronunciation might vary slightly in regions like the Isan area (northeastern Thailand), where "bpen an-ta-rai" could sound more drawn out as "bpen an-taa-raai" due to local accents. In southern dialects, it's generally consistent, but always listen and mimic locals for a more authentic feel, especially in diverse spots like Phuket.

This entry is designed to be a practical resource for English-Thai language enthusiasts, blending SEO-friendly keywords like "English-Thai dictionary" and "deleterious in Thai" with authentic cultural insights. If you're preparing for a trip or business in Thailand, practicing these elements will help you communicate confidently and respectfully. For more words, explore our related entries!