Daily Thai Confidence — Using ท้อแท้ (tháw-tháe)

Adjective: ท้อแท้ (t^háw-t^háe)
Meaning: is disheartened / is downhearted / is discouraged

In this Thai lesson, we will learn how to use the word ท้อแท้ (t^háw-t^háe). In Thai, this word is used to describe an internal emotional state, not a physical action. It is often used when someone feels like giving up emotionally, even if they have not actually stopped yet. It is similar to saying ‘to become discouraged’ or ‘to feel discouraged’.

It often appears after a noun or pronoun, or after a verb like รู้สึก (rúu-sèuk = to feel) or ดู (dūu = to look). The sentence structure usually follow the pattern: subject (+ รู้สึก (rúu-sèuk) or ดู (dūu) + ท้อแท้ (t^háw-t^háe) (+ complement — a clause or a phrase that completes the meaning of the verb).

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

k^hǎo rúu-sèuk t^háw-t^háe gàb gāan-rīan p^hāa-sǎa Thāi
Literal: He feel discouraged with the act of learning language Thai.
He feels discouraged about learning Thai.

The main clause เขารู้สึกท้อแท้ (k^hǎo rúu-sèuk t^háw-t^háe = he feels discouraged) is structurally complete on its own. The speaker adds extra information with a prepositional phrase กับการเรียนภาษาไทย (gàb gāan-rīan p^hāa-sǎa Thāi = with learning Thai), which specifies the area or situation in which the subject เขา (k^hǎo = he) feels discouraged. Please note: The prefix การ (gāan) is used before a verb to turn it into a noun, usually referring to an action, process, or concept — การ (gāan) + verb. For examples: การเดินทาง (gāan-dēuhn-t^hāang = travelling / the act of travelling); การทำอาหาร (gāan-t^hām-āa-hǎan = cooking / the act of cooking); การเรียนรู้ (gāan-rīan-rúu = learning / the act of learning and acquiring knowledge); การสั่งสอน (gāan-sàng-sǎwn = teaching / instructing / guiding / the act of instructing or guiding) etc.

sěe-^hnâa k^hǎwng-t^hēr dūu t^háw-t^háe
Literal: Colour-face belonging to-her look discouraged.
Her expression looks discouraged.

The compound noun สีหน้า (sěe-^hnâa) is formed from two nouns — สี (sěe = colour) and หน้า (^hnâa = face). Together, they refers the expression shown on someone’s face, which reflects their emotions, feelings, or attitude. It can be translated to ‘facial expression’ or ‘the look on someone’s face’. When talking about the physical face (appearance, shape, or physical features), use ใบหน้า (bāi-^hnâa = face) or just หน้า (^hnâa = face) on its own.

t^hēr rêuhm rúu-sèuk t^háw-t^hae p^hrót wâa t^hēr sàwb mâi p^hàan ^hlǎai k^hráng
Literal: She start feel discouraged because she take test not pass many occasion.
She starts to feel discouraged because she failed the exam many times.

This sentence contains a main clause and an adverbial clause of reason. The main clause เธอเริ่มท้อแท้ (t^hēr rêuhm rúu-sèuk t^háw-t^hae = she starts to feel discouraged) is structurally complete on its own. The speaker then provides additional information about why she feels this way by adding adverbial clause of reason เพราะว่าเธอสอบไม่ผ่านหลายครั้ง (p^hrót wâa t^hēr sàwb mâi p^hàan ^hlǎai k^hráng = because she failed the exam many times), which explains the cause of the discouragement.

^hlǎai k^hōn rúu-sèuk t^háw-t^háe gàwn t^hêe-jà bprà-sòb k^hwāam-sǎm-^hrèd
Literal: Many people feel discouraged before-which-will encounter success.
Many people feel discouraged before they succeed.

The main clause หลายคนรู้สึกท้อแท้ (k^hǎo rúu-sèuk t^háw-t^háe = many people feel discouraged) is structurally complete on its own. The speaker adds extra information with an adverbial clause of time ก่อนที่จะประสบความสำเร็จ (gàwn t^hêe-jà bprà-sòb k^hwāam-sǎm-^hrèd = before achieving success), which tell us the time relationship between two events: feeling discouraged before achieving success. Please note: The subordinating conjunction ก่อนที่จะ (gàwn t^hêe-jà) means ‘before (doing something)’ or ‘before (an action happen)’. It is used to introduce an adverbial clause of time, showing that one action happens earlier than another action — main clause + ก่อนที่จะ (gàwn t^hêe-jà = before) + verb / verb phrase.

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

1. I feel discouraged when I don’t understand Thai grammar.
2. She is discouraged about her slow progress.
3. He felt discouraged after failing the exam.
4. Don’t feel discouraged if you make mistakes.
5. Many students feel discouraged at the beginning.

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Urai Khomkham

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