In this lesson, you will not just know that the word ทำ (tham) means to make in Thai, but you will also learn how to use it in different ways.
ทำ (tham) – to make in a compound word
You will see this word very often used with other words to create a sense of making something. Let’s see the example words below.
– ทำ (tham) – to make + งาน (ŋaan) – work, job
– ทำ (tham) – to make + อาหาร (ʔaahǎan) – food
Note: When you mention what you cook, you don’t need the word อาหาร (ʔaahǎan) anymore. For example, you want to say ‘I will make Papaya Salad.’ In Thai, you will say,
‘ฉัน จะ ทำ ส้มตำ (chán ca tham sômtam)’.
– ทำ (tham) – to make + ความสะอาด (khwaam-saʔàat) – cleanliness
– ทำ (tham) – to make + ตัว (tua) – body
– ทำ (tham) – to make + เวลา (weelaa) – time
Note: ทำ (tham) also means to do in Thai. When you say, ‘What are you doing?’ in Thai, it will be
‘คุณ ทำ อะไร อยู่ (khun tham ʔaray yùu).ทำ (tham) as a verb to make
You use ทำ (tham) to show that you make something.
– kháw tham tó tua nán.
– He made that table.
– phǒm tham bâan tôn-máay hây lûuk.
– I made a tree house for my kids.
– chán tham website ʔeeŋ.
– I made my own website.
– kháw tham sabùu cháy ʔeeŋ.
– She made soap for her use.
ทำให้ (tham hây) – to make something happen, to cause something
Use ทำให้ (tham hây) to show that the subject of the sentence is the cause of something.
– fǒn tòk tham hây rót tìt
– Raining causes the traffic jam.
– Covid tham hây chiiwít plìan.
– Covid makes life change.
– kaan-ʔɔ̀ɔk-kamlaŋ-kaay tham hây sùkkhaphâap dii.
– Exercising makes good health.
– khwaam-khrîat tham hây chán pùat-thɔ́ɔŋ.
– Stress causes me to have a stomach ache.
Use ทำ (tham) with an adjective
You will also see the ทำ (tham) used with some adjectives such as เสีย (sǐa), แตก (tæ̀æk), หัก (hàk) which all mean broken, หาย (hǎay) which means lost, and more.
This use of ทำ (tham) turns those words into a verb. See the example below to make it clear.
– phǒm tham thoorasàp sǐa.
– I broke my phone.
– phǒm tham dinsɔ̌ɔ kháw hàk.
– I accidentally broke his pencil.
– kháw tham caan tæ̀æk.
– She broke the plate.
– chán tham thoorasàp hǎay.
– I lost my phone.
Note: Go to the article broken in Thai and lose in Thai to learn more about them.