Daily Thai Confidence — Using ล้ำค่า (lám-khâa)

Adjective: ล้ำค่า (lám-k^hâa)
Meaning: is precious / is valuable / is priceless / is of great value / is invaluable

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the adjective ล้ำค่า (lám-k^hâa), which means ‘precious,’ ‘valuable,’ ‘priceless,’ or ‘of great value.” It is used to describe something that is extremely important, treasured, or difficult to replace. It can refer to both physical things and abstract things such as time, memories, friendship, knowledge, and love.

It is made up of two words:

• ล้ำ (lám) = beyond / exceeding / surpassing
• ค่า (k^hâa) = value / worth

Together, ล้ำค่า (lám-k^hâa) means “beyond value” or “extremely valuable.” Like most Thai adjectives, ล้ำค่า (lám-k^hâa) usually comes after the noun it describes.

The typical structure usually follows the pattern: noun + ล้ำค่า (lám-k^hâa).

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

เวลาเป็นสิ่งล้ำค่า

wāy-lāa bpēn sìng lám-k^hâa
Literal: Time to be thing precious.
Time is precious.

The noun สิ่ง (sìng) means ‘thing,’ ‘something,’ or ‘a concept’. It is often used to refer to ideas, situations, and abstract concepts. For physical objects, สิ่งของ (sìng-k^hǎwng) or ของ (k^hǎwng) are more commonly used.

เพชรเม็ดนี้ล้ำค่ามาก

p^héd méd née lám-k^hâa mâak
Literal: Diamond droplet this valuable very much.
This diamond is extremely valuable.

The classifier เม็ด (méd) is used for small, round, or individual objects such as diamonds, gemstones, pearls, seeds, pills, and drops.

มันเป็นความทรงจำที่ล้ำค่า

mān bpēn k^hwāam-sōng-jām t^hêe lám-k^hâa
Literal: It to be memory that is precious.
It is a precious memory.

The noun ความทรงจำ (k^hwāam-sōng-jām) means ‘memory’ or ‘memories.’ It refers to things that a person remembers from the past, including experiences, events, people, places, and feelings.

พิพิธภัณฑ์เต็มไปด้วยสมบัติที่หายากและล้ำค่า

p^hí-p^híd-t^há-p^hān dtēm-bpāi-dûay sǒm-bàd t^hêe hǎa-yâak láe lám-k^hâa
Literal: Museum full-go-with treasure that find-difficult and precious.   
The museum is full of rare and precious treasures.

Homework (การบ้าน — gāan-bâan)

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

1. The internet is an invaluable resource for students.
2. Her daughter is the most precious thing in the world to her.
3. His experience of teaching in schools in Thailand proved invaluable.
4. Her knowledge and experience would make her a priceless asset to the team.
5. The new job will provide you with invaluable experience.

---

About Post Author