devil

ปีศาจ - Thai translation

Main Translations

  • English: devil
  • Thai: ปีศาจ (phisat)
    • Phonetic: pee-sàt (pronounced with a rising tone on "pee" and a falling tone on "sàt")
    • Detailed Explanation: The word "ปีศาจ" is commonly used in Thai to refer to a supernatural evil being, similar to the English "devil." It carries strong emotional connotations of fear, mischief, or temptation, often in folklore, religious stories, or metaphorical contexts. For instance, in Thai culture, it might describe a deceptive character in a ghost story or symbolize inner struggles. SEO keywords: devil translation in Thai, Thai word for devil.
  • Thai: ซาตาน (satan)
    • Phonetic: sa-tan (pronounced with a mid tone on "sa" and a low tone on "tan")
    • Detailed Explanation: This term specifically translates to "Satan" or "the Devil" in a biblical or Christian context. It evokes semantic nuances of ultimate evil, rebellion, and spiritual warfare, often used in formal religious discussions or media adaptations of Western stories. In Thai usage, it might appear in translated texts or modern pop culture, carrying a more intense emotional weight than "ปีศาจ." SEO keywords: biblical devil in Thai, Satan translation.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

The word "devil" is versatile and appears in various contexts, from religious and metaphorical expressions to casual idioms. In English, it often denotes an evil supernatural entity, but it can also imply mischief, temptation, or exaggeration (e.g., in phrases like "play devil's advocate"). In Thai translations like "ปีศาจ" or "ซาตาน," usage scenarios include storytelling, moral lessons, business negotiations (as a metaphor for risky deals), and everyday conversations about challenges. Common scenarios involve religious texts, literature, informal banter, and cultural folklore, making it a word with both literal and figurative applications. SEO keywords: common usage of devil word, scenarios for devil in English and Thai.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

  • English: Don't make a deal with the devil, as it could jeopardize the company's future.
  • Thai: อย่าทำข้อตกลงกับปีศาจ เพราะมันอาจทำลายอนาคตของบริษัท (Yàa dtam kòt dtoklang gàp pee-sàt, prór man àat dam-rai anaa-kót khǎwng baan-ná-thi)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Don't" is a contraction of "do not," functioning as an auxiliary verb for negation; "make a deal" is the main verb phrase; "with the devil" is a prepositional phrase indicating the object of the action; "as it could jeopardize" is a subordinate clause showing consequence.
  • Structural Analysis: This is an imperative sentence structure advising against an action, with a conditional clause for emphasis. In Thai, the sentence follows a similar imperative form but uses particles like "อย่า" for prohibition, making it direct and cautionary. SEO keywords: business usage of devil word.

Leisure Scenario

  • English: That spicy dish is the devil—it's fun but burns your tongue!
  • Thai: อาหารเผ็ดนั้นเป็นปีศาจเลย—มันสนุกแต่ทำให้ลิ้นไหม้ (Á-hǎan pèt nán bpen pee-sàt loei—man sà-nùk dtàe tam hâi lín mài)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "That spicy dish" is the subject; "is the devil" is a predicate nominative for exaggeration; "it's fun but burns" is a compound predicate with a conjunction.
  • Structural Analysis: This exclamatory structure uses metaphor for emphasis in casual speech. In Thai, "เป็นปีศาจเลย" adds idiomatic flair, blending description with emotion. SEO keywords: leisure scenarios for devil translation.

Formal Occasion

  • English: In literature, the devil often symbolizes human temptation and moral conflict.
  • Thai: ในวรรณกรรม ปีศาจมักเป็นสัญลักษณ์ของการล่อลวงและความขัดแย้งทางศีลธรรม (Nai wanná-gàrm, pee-sàt mak bpen sǎ n-lák khǎwng gaan lòo-lûng láe kwaam khàt yaeng tàang sǐn tàam)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "In literature" is a prepositional phrase; "the devil often symbolizes" is the main clause with "symbolizes" as the verb; "human temptation and moral conflict" are objects.
  • Structural Analysis: A declarative sentence with formal tone, using abstraction. Thai maintains this with parallel structure, emphasizing cultural symbolism. SEO keywords: formal usage of devil in Thai.

Informal Occasion

  • English: Speak of the devil, here comes my mischievous friend!
  • Thai: พูดถึงปีศาจพอดี เพื่อนซนของฉันมาแล้ว (Pûut tĕung pee-sàt paa di, pûen sŏn khǎwng chăn maa lɛ́o)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Speak of the devil" is an idiomatic expression; "here comes" is a verb phrase; "my mischievous friend" is the subject complement.
  • Structural Analysis: An exclamatory idiom in informal English, translated to Thai with a conversational tone for surprise. SEO keywords: informal devil word scenarios.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

  • English: The devil in the story represents pure evil.
  • Thai: ปีศาจในเรื่องนี้เป็นตัวแทนของความชั่วร้ายบริสุทธิ์ (Pee-sàt nai rûeng ní bpen dtua tà-nǎn khǎwng kwaam chûa râi bò-ri-sùt)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "The devil" is the subject; "in the story" is a prepositional phrase; "represents pure evil" is the predicate.
  • Structural Analysis: Straightforward declarative form for stating facts. Thai mirrors this with subject-verb-object order. SEO keywords: declarative sentence with devil.

Interrogative Sentence

  • English: Have you ever dealt with the devil in your dreams?
  • Thai: คุณเคยต่อสู้กับปีศาจในฝันของคุณไหม (Khun keuy dtàw sùu gàp pee-sàt nai făn khǎwng khun mǎi)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Have you ever" is the interrogative auxiliary; "dealt with the devil" is the main verb phrase; "in your dreams" is a prepositional phrase.
  • Structural Analysis: Question form to provoke thought, with Thai using "ไหม" for inquiry. SEO keywords: interrogative usage of devil word.

Imperative Sentence

  • English: Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
  • Thai: ต้านทานปีศาจและมันจะหนีจากคุณ (Dtân-tan pee-sàt láe man jà nîi jàak khun)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Resist" is the imperative verb; "the devil" is the object; "and he will flee" is a coordinated clause.
  • Structural Analysis: Commands action, with Thai employing a direct verb form. SEO keywords: imperative sentence for devil translation.

Exclamatory Sentence

  • English: What a cunning devil he is!
  • Thai: ช่างเป็นปีศาจที่แยบยลอะไรอย่างนั้น! (Châang bpen pee-sàt tîi yâp yon à-rai yàang nán!)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "What a" is an exclamatory intensifier; "cunning devil" is the subject; "he is" is the predicate.
  • Structural Analysis: Emphasizes surprise or admiration, with Thai using exclamation for emotional impact. SEO keywords: exclamatory devil in Thai.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

  • English: The devil is evil.
  • Thai: ปีศาจเป็นชั่วร้าย (Pee-sàt bpen chûa râi)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "The devil" (subject); "is" (verb); "evil" (predicate adjective).
  • Structural Analysis: Basic subject-verb-complement structure for beginners. SEO keywords: simple sentence with devil.

Intermediate Sentence

  • English: People often fear the devil because of its power.
  • Thai: ผู้คนมักกลัวปีศาจเพราะอำนาจของมัน (Pûu khon mak glùa pee-sàt prór am-nâat khǎwng man)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "People" (subject); "often fear" (verb phrase); "because of its power" (subordinate clause).
  • Structural Analysis: Includes a reason clause, adding complexity. Thai uses connectors for flow. SEO keywords: intermediate devil sentence.

Complex Sentence

  • English: Although the devil tempts us with promises, we must resist to maintain our integrity.
  • Thai: แม้ปีศาจจะล่อลวงเราด้วยคำสัญญา แต่เราต้องต้านทานเพื่อรักษาความซื่อสัตย์ (Mae pee-sàt ja lòo-lûng rao dûai kam sǎ-nyaa, dtàe rao dtông dtân-tan pêrm rák-sa kwaam sǐu sàt)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Although" introduces a subordinate clause; "the devil tempts us" is the main clause; "we must resist" is another clause with infinitive phrase.
  • Structural Analysis: Multi-clause structure for advanced expression, with Thai mirroring concessive and purpose elements. SEO keywords: complex sentence for devil word.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

  • Demon – Used interchangeably with "devil" to describe an evil spirit, often in supernatural contexts (e.g., "The demon haunted the village").
  • Fiend – A near synonym implying a cruel or wicked person, with similar metaphorical use (e.g., "He's a fiend in negotiations").

Antonyms:

  • Angel – Represents goodness and purity, contrasting the evil of "devil" (e.g., "An angel watches over us").
  • Saint – Denotes holiness and virtue, often in religious opposition (e.g., "The saint defeated the devil's temptations").

Common Collocations:

  • Devil's advocate – Used to argue the opposite side for debate (e.g., "I'll play devil's advocate to test your idea").
  • Speak of the devil – An idiom for when someone mentioned appears (e.g., "Speak of the devil, and he arrives!").

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

  • Cultural Point 1: In Western cultures, particularly Christianity, the "devil" originates from biblical texts as a fallen angel symbolizing temptation and sin, influencing literature like Milton's "Paradise Lost." In Thai culture, "ปีศาจ" draws from Buddhist and folk traditions, representing spirits in tales like those in Thai ghost stories (e.g., "Nang Nak"), blending animism with moral lessons. This highlights how the word adapts across cultures, emphasizing evil's role in personal and societal narratives. SEO keywords: cultural background of devil, Thai cultural notes on devil.

Usage Habits:

  • Habit 1: "Devil" and its Thai equivalents are frequently used in informal settings among younger demographics for humor or exaggeration, but less so in formal contexts. In Thailand, "ปีศาจ" is popular in media and festivals, making it accessible to all age groups, while "ซาตาน" is more niche and appears in religious or educational discussions. Frequency is high in storytelling and idioms, with SEO optimization for phrases like "popular usage of devil in Thai culture."

Grammar Explanation

  • Grammatical Function: "Devil" functions primarily as a noun, serving as a subject (e.g., "The devil tempts"), object (e.g., "Fear the devil"), or part of a phrase (e.g., "Devil's work"). In Thai, "ปีศาจ" follows similar roles but must agree with classifiers in sentences (e.g., "ตัวปีศาจ" for "the devil").
  • Tense and Voice: As a noun, "devil" doesn't change with tenses but can appear in various verb constructions (e.g., active voice: "The devil attacks"; passive: "The village was attacked by the devil"). In Thai, voice is implied through context, with no direct tense changes for nouns.

References

Etymology and History:

The English word "devil" derives from Old English "deofol," which evolved from Latin "diabolus" and Greek "diabolos," meaning "slanderer" or "accuser." Historically, it gained prominence in Christian theology during the Middle Ages, symbolizing evil. In Thai, "ปีศาจ" has roots in Sanskrit "piśāca," referring to demons in ancient Indian texts, which influenced Southeast Asian folklore. SEO keywords: etymology of devil word, history of devil in Thai.

Literary References:

  • From John Milton's "Paradise Lost" (Book 1, Line 26): "Of Man's First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat..." – Here, the devil (Satan) is depicted as a rebellious figure, influencing modern interpretations. In Thai literature, references appear in works like "Phra Aphai Mani" by Sunthorn Phu, where spirits akin to "ปีศาจ" embody chaos.