Describing thingsClear in Thai
“Clear” in Thai is ชัดchát; you'll also hear ชัดเจนchát-jeen (formal) and ใสsǎi (see-through).
clear, sharp, distinct (to see or hear) adjective
- chát high
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
clear, obvious (careful speech, writing) adjective formal
- chát high
- jeen mid
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
clear, transparent (water, glass) adjective see-through
- sǎi rising
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
How to use it
Thai has two "clears". ชัดchát is clear to see or hear: a sharp photo, a clear voice, clear pronunciation, and a Thai friend may compliment you with พูดชัดpûut chát, you speak clearly. ชัดเจนchát-jeen means the same in careful speech and writing, for clear explanations and obvious facts. ใสsǎi is clear like water or glass: the sea off the islands, a clear broth. Mind the tone: rising ใสsǎi is see-through, while low ใส่sài is to put in or to wear.
Don't mix it up
-
ใส่sài
to put in; to wear
Low tone: to put in, to wear.
Other spellings you'll see
There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:
- chat jen
- chatjen
- chad jen
More describing things in Thai
All describing things
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones