Daily Thai Confidence — Using เดิม (dēuhm)

Adjective: เดิม (dēuhm)
Meaning: original / former / previous / the same as before

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the adjective เดิม (dēuhm), which means ‘former,’ ‘previous,’ or ‘the same as before.’ It refers to something that existed before and has not been changed, or something that was the case in the past.

The typical structure usually follows the pattern: noun +เดิม (dēuhm).

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

บ้านเดิมของฉันอยู่ที่เชียงใหม่

bâan dēuhm k^hǎwng-chǎn ^awyùu t^hêe chīang ^hmài
Literal: Home original belonging to-me to be situated in Chiang Mai.
My original home was in Chiang Mai.

The word อยู่ (^awyùu) often functions as a linking verb meaning ‘to be,’ ‘is,’ ‘am,’ or ‘are’ and is used to indicate where someone or something is located. When it is used in this way, it is often followed by a preposition, then a location — subject + อยู่ (^awyùu) + preposition of place + noun for location. For example: ฉันกำลังอยู่ที่บ้านตอนนี้ (chǎn gām-lāng ^awyùu t^hêe bâan dtāwn-née = I am at home.)

เขากลับไปทำงานที่บริษัทเดิม

k^hǎo glàb bpāi t^hām-ngāan t^hêe bāw-rí-sàd dēuhm
Literal: He return to go do-work at company the same as before.
He went back to work at the same company as before.

The verb phrase กลับไป (glàb bpāi) means ‘to go back to…’ ‘to return to…’ It describes moving back to a place where someone was before or go back to doing something — subject + กลับไป (glàb bpāi) + verb / place.

เขายังเป็นคนเดิม

k^hǎo yāng bpēn k^hōn dēuhm
Literal: He still to be person the same as before.
He is still the same person.

The adverb ยัง (yāng) means ‘still.’ It is used to show that a situation, action, or state continues up to the present and has not changed — subject + ยัง (yāng) + verb / adjective.

เธอยังบอกขายราคาเดิม

t^hēr yāng bàwk k^hǎai rāa-k^hāa dēuhm
Literal: She still tell sell price original.
She is still offering it for sale at the original price.

The verb phrase บอกขาย (bàwk k^hǎai) means ‘to tell’ or ‘to inform’ someone that something is for sale, or to let people know that you are selling something.

Homework (การบ้าน — gāan-bâan)

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

1. She still uses the same phone as before.
2. Everything is the same as before.
3. Don’t do it the same way again.
4. He still uses the same method as before.
5. Let’s meet at the same place as before.

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