Daily Thai Confidence — Using เป้าหมาย (bpâo-hmǎai)

Noun: เป้าหมาย (bpâo-^hmǎai)
Meaning: goal / target / objective

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the noun เป้าหมาย (bpâo-^hmǎai), which means ‘goal,’ ‘target,’ or ‘objective’. It refers to something you want to achieve. It can be a personal goal, a study goal, a work goal, or even a life goal. At its core, เป้าหมาย (bpâo-^hmǎai) is the thing you are aiming for. It can serve as a subject of the sentence (ประธานของประโยค — bprà-t^hāan k^hǎwng bprà-yôok) or object of the sentence (กรรมของประโยค — gāam k^hǎwng bprà-yôok).

The typical structure usually follow the pattern: subject + verb + object + complement (a clause or a phrase that completes the meaning of the verb).

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

chǎn mēe bpâo-^hmǎai nāi gāan-rīan p^hāa-sǎa Thāi
Literal: I have goal in the action of learning language Thai.
I have a goal in learning Thai.

The noun เป้าหมาย (bpâo-^hmǎai = goal / target / objective) serves as the direct object in sentence because it comes after the verb มี (mēe = to have). The personal pronoun ฉัน (chǎn = I / me (for female speaker)) is the subject of the sentence. The preposition ใน (nāi) means ‘in’ and is used to introduce the noun phrase การเรียนภาษาไทย (gāan-rīan p^hāa-sǎa Thāi = learning Thai). Together, they form a prepositional phrase that specifies what the goal is related to. This phrase adds information and completes the meaning of the sentence, but it is not a clause.

p^hǒm dtâng bpâo-^hmǎai ^hmài sǎm-^hràb bpēe née
Literal: I set goal new for year this.
I set new goal for this year.

The noun เป้าหมาย (bpâo-^hmǎai = goal / target / objective) serves as the direct object in sentence because it comes after the verb ตั้ง (dtâng = to set / to establish / to create). The personal pronoun ผม (p^hǒm = I / me (for male speaker)) is the subject of the sentence. The adjective ใหม่ (^hmài = is new) is placed after the noun เป้าหมาย (bpâo-^hmǎai = goal / target / objective) to describe it as a new goal. The preposition สำหรับ (sǎm-^hràb) means ‘for’ and is used to introduce the noun phrase ปีนี้ (bpēe née = this year). Together, they form a prepositional phrase that indicates the time frame of the action.

bpâo-^hmǎai k^hǎwng-k^hǎo k^hēu rīan p^hāa-sǎa Thāi t^húk wān
Literal: Goal belonging to-him to be equal to learn language Thai every day.
His goal is to study Thai every day.

The noun เป้าหมาย (bpâo-^hmǎai = goal / target / objective) is the subject of the sentence because it comes before the verb คือ (k^hēu = to be / is / am / are). The possessive adjective ของเขา (k^hǎwng-k^hǎo = his) is placed after the subject to indicate whose goal it is (his goal). The คือ (k^hēu = to be / is / am / are) functions a linking verb that connects the subject to its explanation or definition. The verb phrase เรียนภาษาไทยทุกวัน (rīan p^hāa-sǎa Thāi t^húk wān = learn Thai every day) acts as a complement that defines what the goal is.

gāan-dtâng bpâo-^hmǎai chûay hâi chēe-wíd mēe t^híd-t^hāang
Literal: The action of setting goal help for life have direction.
Setting goals helps give life direction.

The prefix การ (gāan) is placed before the verb ตั้ง (dtâng = to set / to establish / to create) in order to turn it into a gerund (a verb form that acts as a noun). In Thai, this is like saying ‘the act of….’ (doing the verb that follows). Together การตั้งเป้าหมาย (gāan-dtâng bpâo-^hmǎai) means ‘the setting of goals’ and functions as the subject of the sentence. The verb ช่วย (chûay = to help) is the main verb, expressing assistance or support. The complement marker ให้ (hâi = for / to give / to cause / to make / to allow) introduces the result clause, showing the outcome of the helping action. The result clause ชีวิตมีทิศทาง (chēe-wíd mēe t^híd-t^hāang = life has direction) completes the meaning of the verb ช่วย (chûay = to help).

Practise putting your newly learned Thai word into a sentence by translating the following sentences below.

1. He set goals for his work.
2. She set a new goal for this month.
3. We have a goal to improve our Thai pronunciation.
4. His goal is to travel around Thailand next year.
5. They set a goal to visit Chiang Mai this year.

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Urai Khomkham

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