I will show you how to use long2 \u0e25\u0e07 and keun3 \u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19 as quantitative modifiers to adjectives. They are very commonly used as comparatives, basically describing how one thing compares to another. However, as they are opposites, their use is a little counterintuitive and can be confusing at first.<\/p>\n
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Alone, these two words are verbs. As a verb, keun means \u2018to increase\u2019, \u2018raise\u2019, or \u2018augment\u2019. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n
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\u0e2d\u0e49\u0e27\u0e19\u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19 \u2013 become fatter<\/p>\n
\u0e21\u0e32\u0e01\u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19 \u2013 increase, become more<\/p>\n
\u0e19\u0e49\u0e33\u0e19\u0e31\u0e01\u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19 \u2013 weight increased, increase weight<\/p>\n
\u0e23\u0e27\u0e22\u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19 \u2013 get richer<\/p>\n
\u0e14\u0e35\u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19 \u2013 get better<\/p>\n
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Notice that in each example, a particular state gets increased.<\/p>\n
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The opposite of keun is long. The word \u0e25\u0e07 means to \u2018decrease\u2019 and to \u2018lower\u2019. The following five examples are the exact opposites of the above five examples:<\/p>\n
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\u0e1c\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e25\u0e07 \u2013 become skinnier<\/p>\n
\u0e19\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e22\u0e25\u0e07 \u2013 decrease, become not as much as before<\/p>\n
\u0e19\u0e49\u0e33\u0e19\u0e31\u0e01\u0e25\u0e07 \u2013 weight decreased, decrease weight<\/p>\n
\u0e08\u0e19\u0e25\u0e07 \u2013 get poorer<\/p>\n
\u0e41\u0e22\u0e48\u0e25\u0e07 \u2013 get worse<\/p>\n
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So how do you know which words are used with \u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19 and which words are used with \u0e25\u0e07? Why sometimes both? Supposedly it has to do with Thai cultural feelings, where \u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19 is used with words that are felt to be \u2018good\u2019, and \u0e25\u0e07 is used with words that are felt to be \u2018bad\u2019. So why is \u0e2d\u0e49\u0e27\u0e19 good and \u0e1c\u0e2d\u0e21 bad? I\u2019ve been told traditional Thai culture sees it that way . . . but Thai culture is changing, so you\u2019ll on rare occasion now see \u0e1c\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19 and \u0e2d\u0e49\u0e27\u0e19\u0e25\u0e07, too.<\/p>\n
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I tried hard to find a good video to help you practice these words, but didn\u2019t have much luck. So you\u2019ll have to just listen to this song which has the words maak3 keun3 \u0e21\u0e32\u0e01\u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19 and noi4 long2 \u0e19\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e22\u0e25\u0e07 repeated often:<\/p>\n