Idiomatic Expression: ยิ่ง…ยิ่ง… (yîng… yîng…)
Meaning: the more…, the more…
In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the common Thai pattern ยิ่ง…ยิ่ง… (yîng… yîng…), which can be translated to ‘the more…, the more…’ This structure is used to show that as one thing increased or changes, another thing also increases or changes.
The word ยิ่ง (yîng) means ‘more and more’ or ‘to an increasing degree.’ When it appears twice, it creates a comparison showing that one change leads to another. Think of it like this, ‘the more X happens, the more Y happens.’
The typical structure usually follows the pattern: ยิ่ง (yîng) + clause 1 + ยิ่ง (yîng) + clause 2 or ยิ่ง (yîng) + adjective / verb + ยิ่ง (yîng) + adjective / verb.
For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-awyàang chên)
ยิ่งเรียน ยิ่งเก่ง
yîng rīan, yîng gèng
Literal: The more study, the more getting better.
The more you study, the better you become.
ยิ่งกิน ยิ่งอ้วน
yîng gīn, yîng uân
Literal: The more gin, the more fat.
The more you eat, the fatter you get.
ยิ่งฝึก ยิ่งมั่นใจ
yîng fèuk, yîng mân-jāi
Literal: The more practise, the more confident.
The more you practise, the more confident you become.
ยิ่งมีอายุมากขึ้น ยิ่งมีประสบการณ์ชีวิต
yîng mēe āa-yút mâak-khêun, yîng mēe bprà-sòb-gāan chēe-wíd
Literal: The more have age more, the more have experience life.
The older you get, the more life experience you gain.
Homework (การบ้าน — gāan-bâan)
Practise putting your newly learned Thai word into a sentence by translating the following sentences below.
- The more you walk, the more tired you become.
- The more you work, the more experience you gain.
- The closer it gets, the more excited you become.
- The more expensive it is, the better it is.
- The more you get to know someone, the more you like them.
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