dime

เหรียญสิบเซ็นต์ - Thai translation

Main Translations

  • English: Dime
  • Thai: เหรียญสิบเซ็นต์ (H̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ)
  • Phonetic: Hree-un sib sen
  • Detailed Explanation: In English, "dime" refers to a coin worth ten cents in the US currency system. It is commonly used in everyday transactions, such as buying small items or in vending machines. The word carries neutral emotional connotations, often evoking simplicity or nostalgia due to its association with pocket change. In usage scenarios, it can appear in literal contexts (e.g., counting money) or idiomatic expressions (e.g., slang for something small). Semantically, it symbolizes affordability or minimal value in American culture.
  • Thai: ไดม์ (Dai-m)
  • Phonetic: Dye-m
  • Detailed Explanation: In Thai, "ไดม์" is a borrowed term from English, used informally to refer to the US dime coin, especially in contexts involving foreign currency or international trade. It has a neutral connotation and is less common in everyday Thai speech, where "เหรียญสิบเซ็นต์" is preferred for clarity. Usage scenarios include discussions about US dollars in tourism or finance, with semantic nuances emphasizing its foreign origin rather than local currency.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

"Dime" is primarily used in English-speaking contexts, especially in the US, to denote a ten-cent coin. Its usage scenarios span everyday life, such as financial transactions, informal conversations, and cultural references. In Thai translations, it appears in scenarios involving American culture, like travel or media. Common contexts include commerce (e.g., making change), slang (e.g., in sports or idioms), and historical discussions, making it a versatile word with practical and cultural applications.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

  • English: I need a dime to operate the vending machine at the office.
  • Thai: ฉันต้องการเหรียญสิบเซ็นต์เพื่อใช้เครื่องจำหน่ายสินค้าที่ออฟฟิศ (Chăn dtông gaan h̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ pĕ̂ng chái khrûea jam nai s̄in k̄hả thī orf fịc).
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "I need" (subject + verb) indicates necessity; "a dime" (article + noun) specifies the object; "to operate the vending machine" (infinitive phrase) acts as a purpose clause; "at the office" (prepositional phrase) provides location.
  • Structural Analysis: This is a simple declarative sentence with a subject-verb-object structure. The word "dime" functions as a direct object, emphasizing its role in a practical, transactional context. In Thai, the sentence maintains a similar structure but uses classifiers for nouns, enhancing clarity in business settings.

Leisure Scenario

  • English: She found a dime while walking on the beach during her vacation.
  • Thai: เธอพบเหรียญสิบเซ็นต์ขณะเดินเล่นบนชายหาดระหว่างวันหยุด (Ther phóp h̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ k̄hwa nả dĕn lĕn bòrn chāy h̄ād rā̂ng wạn yùd).
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "She found" (subject + verb) describes the action; "a dime" (article + noun) is the object; "while walking on the beach" (subordinate clause) adds detail; "during her vacation" (prepositional phrase) specifies time.
  • Structural Analysis: This compound sentence integrates a main clause with a temporal clause, showing "dime" as a concrete noun. In Thai, the structure uses connectors for flow, making it suitable for casual, leisure-related narratives.

Formal Occasion

  • English: In his speech, the economist discussed how a single dime represents the basics of currency exchange.
  • Thai: ในสุนทรพจน์ของเขา นักเศรษฐศาสตร์ได้พูดคุยเกี่ยวกับวิธีที่เหรียญสิบเซ็นต์สื่อถึงพื้นฐานของการแลกเปลี่ยนสกุลเงิน (Nı s̄undtr pchın k̄hxng k̄hâo, nảk s̄e r̄ṭ̄h s̄ān thèng p̄hûd khụyเกีຢກ່ຽວກັບ wic̄hī thī h̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ s̄ū̂ k̄hụ̂n p̄hûn tản k̄hxng kār lảk chêen s̄kul ngeīyen).
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "In his speech" (prepositional phrase) sets the scene; "the economist discussed" (subject + verb) is the main action; "how a single dime represents" (subordinate clause) explains the concept; "the basics of currency exchange" (noun phrase) is the object.
  • Structural Analysis: This complex sentence uses embedded clauses for depth, with "dime" as a symbolic noun. Thai translation employs formal vocabulary, aligning with official contexts like lectures or reports.

Informal Occasion

  • English: Hey, do you have a dime? I need it for the laundry machine.
  • Thai: เฮ้ คุณมีเหรียญสิบเซ็นต์ไหม ฉันต้องการสำหรับเครื่องซักผ้า (Hè, khun mī h̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ m̄āi? Chăn dtông gaan s̄ảh̄r̄ khrûea s̄ảk p̄hâ).
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Hey, do you have" (interjection + interrogative verb phrase) starts the question; "a dime" (article + noun) is the object; "I need it for" (subject + verb + pronoun + prepositional phrase) provides reason.
  • Structural Analysis: This interrogative sentence has a casual tone, with "dime" as a direct object in an everyday query. In Thai, it uses question particles for informality, common in social interactions.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

  • English: A dime is worth ten cents in US currency.
  • Thai: เหรียญสิบเซ็นต์มีมูลค่าเท่ากับสิบเซ็นต์ในสกุลเงินสหรัฐ (H̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ mī mụ̄l kả tèāks̄ub s̄ib s̄enṯ nı s̄kul ngeīyen s̄ụdt̄h).
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "A dime" (subject); "is worth" (verb phrase); "ten cents in US currency" (predicate).
  • Structural Analysis: Simple structure for stating facts, with "dime" as the subject. Thai maintains a direct equivalent for educational purposes.

Interrogative Sentence

  • English: Is this a dime or a nickel?
  • Thai: นี่เป็นเหรียญสิบเซ็นต์หรือเหรียญห้าเซ็นต์? (Nī pĕn h̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ reụ̄ h̄r̂ıỵ h̄ā s̄enṯ?)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Is this" (interrogative verb + pronoun); "a dime or a nickel" (object with conjunction).
  • Structural Analysis: Question form for comparison, with "dime" as a key noun. Thai uses alternatives for clarity in queries.

Imperative Sentence

  • English: Give me a dime from the change.
  • Thai: ให้เหรียญสิบเซ็นต์จากเงินทอนกับฉัน (Hı̂ h̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ cāk ngeīyen thon kảb chăn).
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Give me" (imperative verb + object pronoun); "a dime from the change" (direct object + prepositional phrase).
  • Structural Analysis: Command structure, urging action with "dime" as the object. Thai adds politeness markers for social norms.

Exclamatory Sentence

  • English: What a lucky find—a dime in my pocket!
  • Thai: โชคดีจริงๆ ที่พบเหรียญสิบเซ็นต์ในกระเป๋าของฉัน! (Chôk di jing-jing thī phóp h̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ nı krapao k̄hxng chăn!)
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "What a lucky find" (exclamation); "a dime in my pocket" (noun phrase).
  • Structural Analysis: Emphasizes surprise, with "dime" as the focal point. Thai uses exclamatory particles to convey emotion.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

  • English: I have a dime.
  • Thai: ฉันมีเหรียญสิบเซ็นต์ (Chăn mī h̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ).
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "I have" (subject + verb); "a dime" (object).
  • Structural Analysis: Basic subject-verb-object form, ideal for beginners.

Intermediate Sentence

  • English: She used a dime to buy candy from the store.
  • Thai: เธอใช้เหรียญสิบเซ็นต์ซื้อลูกอมจากร้าน (Ther châi h̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ s̄ả s̄r̂n lūk k̄hxm cāk r̂ān).
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "She used" (subject + verb); "a dime" (object); "to buy candy from the store" (infinitive phrase).
  • Structural Analysis: Includes purpose and location, building on simple structures.

Complex Sentence

  • English: Although the dime is small, it plays a significant role in everyday transactions, especially in vending machines across the country.
  • Thai: แม้ว่าเหรียญสิบเซ็นต์จะเล็กแต่ก็มีบทบาทสำคัญในธุรกรรมประจำวัน โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งในเครื่องจำหน่ายสินค้าทั่วประเทศ (Mæ̀ wâa h̄r̂ıỵ s̄ib s̄enṯ ca lĕk tæ̀e gò mī bòt bāt s̄āmk̄hng nı thurakām pracam wan, dèy p̄hæ̀s̄ dĕk wic̄hī yĕīng nı khrûea jam nai s̄in k̄hả thả̀w bprathēt).
  • Grammatical Breakdown: "Although the dime is small" (subordinate clause); "it plays a significant role" (main clause); "in everyday transactions, especially in vending machines across the country" (additional phrases).
  • Structural Analysis: Uses conjunctions for contrast and detail, making it suitable for advanced contexts.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

  • Ten-cent piece – Refers to the same coin, used in formal or descriptive contexts to avoid slang.
  • Nickel (near synonym in value comparison) – Often contrasted with dime, as in discussions of small change.

Antonyms:

  • Quarter – Represents a higher value (25 cents), used in contrasts for financial discussions.
  • Penny – A lower value (1 cent), highlighting differences in coin denominations.

Common Collocations:

  • Drop a dime – Slang for informing on someone, often in informal or criminal contexts, e.g., "He dropped a dime on his friend."
  • Vending machine dime – Refers to using a dime for purchases, common in daily life scenarios.

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

  • Cultural Point 1: In American culture, the dime is part of the historical "Lincoln penny, Jefferson nickel, Roosevelt dime" series, symbolizing everyday democracy and economic accessibility. It often appears in idioms like "a dime a dozen," meaning something common or inexpensive, reflecting a culture of consumerism.

Usage Habits:

  • Habit 1: "Dime" is frequently used in casual, urban American English, especially among younger demographics or in media. It's less common in formal writing but popular in spoken language, with high frequency in the US due to cash transactions, though declining with digital payments.

Grammar Explanation

  • Grammatical Function: "Dime" functions as a noun, typically as a subject, object, or part of a prepositional phrase in sentences. For example, it can be a direct object in "I found a dime."
  • Tense and Voice: As a noun, "dime" does not change with tense. However, in sentences, it can appear in active voice (e.g., "She spent a dime") or passive voice (e.g., "A dime was found by him"), where the verb tense varies (past, present, future) to describe actions involving it.

References

Etymology and History:

The word "dime" originates from the Old French "disme," meaning a tenth, reflecting its value as one-tenth of a dollar. It entered English in the 18th century with the establishment of the US monetary system. Over time, it evolved into slang uses, such as in basketball (an assist) or idioms, adapting to cultural shifts in language.

Literary References:

  • From F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby": "He had on a dress suit and patent leather shoes, and I couldn't keep my eyes off him, but every time I tried to speak, the words seemed to stick in my throat." (Indirect reference to wealth, where small change like a dime symbolizes aspiration.)
  • From Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer": "Tom said to himself that it was not such a hollow world, after all. He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it—namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain." (Coins like dimes are implied in themes of value and desire.)