กำลัง
be doing; be in the process of
Native recording
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- 1 be doing; be in the process of
- 2 strength、energy、capacity; ability、manpower; forces、power output
- 3 power [mathematics]、exponent
- 4 just right 、to a suitable degree
This word refers to strength or capacity, and it also appears before a verb to show that an action is in progress. In mathematics it means a power, while the common expression กำลังดี describes something as being just right.
be doing; be in the process of
Placed before a verb, it marks an action or change as ongoing at the relevant time. In กำลังจะ, it shows that something is about to happen.
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ฉันกำลังกินข้าว chǎn kamlaŋ kin khâaw I'm eating. ฉันกำลังกินข้าว details
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เขากำลังทำงานอยู่ khǎw kamlaŋ tham ŋaan yùu He's working. เขากำลังทำงานอยู่ details
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ตอนนั้นฝนกำลังตก tɔɔn nán fǒn kamlaŋ tòk It was raining at that time. ตอนนั้นฝนกำลังตก details
strength、energy、capacity; ability、manpower; forces、power output
The strength or capacity available to do or support something. Depending on context, it can refer to physical strength, ability, resources, personnel, or mechanical power.
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ทำเต็มกำลัง tham tem kamlaŋ Do it with all one's strength. ทำเต็มกำลัง details
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เรื่องนี้เกินกำลังของฉัน rʉ̂aŋ níi kəən kamlaŋ khɔ̌ɔŋ chǎn This is beyond my ability. เรื่องนี้เกินกำลังของฉัน details
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ช่วยตามกำลัง chûay taam kamlaŋ Help as much as one's means allow. ช่วยตามกำลัง details
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เจ้าหน้าที่ระดมกำลังค้นหาผู้สูญหาย câw nâathîi rádom kamlaŋ khón hǎa phûu sǔun hǎay Officials mobilized personnel to search for the missing person. เจ้าหน้าที่ระดมกำลังค้นหาผู้สูญหาย details
power [mathematics]、exponent
In mathematics, it refers to a power or exponent—the repeated multiplication of the same number.
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กำลังสอง kamlaŋ sɔ̌ɔŋ the second power; squared กำลังสอง details
just right 、to a suitable degree
Most commonly in กำลังดี, it describes a size, flavor, temperature, or other degree as neither too much nor too little, but just right.
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รสชาติกำลังดี rótchâat kamlaŋ dii The flavor is just right. รสชาติกำลังดี details
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อากาศเย็นกำลังดี aakàat yen kamlaŋ dii The weather is pleasantly cool. อากาศเย็นกำลังดี details
Learning notes
Explanation
กำลัง has two especially important uses: the noun meaning “strength or capacity” and the preverbal marker for an ongoing action. The basic progressive pattern is กำลัง + verb. The expanded pattern กำลัง + verb + อยู่ is also extremely common. It is not limited to something happening at this exact second: it can describe an action underway at a past reference point or an activity continuing through the current period. กำลังจะ + verb means that something is about to happen, rather than merely placing it somewhere in the future. As a noun, its central idea is the strength or capacity available to accomplish something. Useful expressions include เต็มกำลัง “with full effort,” เกินกำลัง “beyond one's capacity,” and ตามกำลัง “according to one's ability or means.” กำลังใจ extends the idea to inner strength, encouragement, and emotional support. In mathematics, ยกกำลังสาม means “raise to the third power,” while กำลังสอง means “the second power” or “squared.”
Usage
In everyday conversation, กำลัง is frequently used to say or ask what someone is doing. กำลังจะ is natural when someone is just about to leave or when rain appears imminent, while กำลังดี is used to judge flavor, fit, temperature, and similar qualities as just right. The noun appears in ordinary discussions of strength, ability, effort, and financial means. It also occurs in news and official contexts for personnel or military forces, and in technical contexts for mechanical power.
Caution
Progressive กำลัง comes before the verb. It does not change form according to the subject, and no separate equivalent of English “be” is required. Because กำลังจะ suggests that an event is imminent, ordinary จะ or another planning expression is usually more suitable for a distant future plan. Also, กำลังดี is not progressive; the expression as a whole means “just right.”
Differences from similar words
1 be doing; be in the process of synonyms
2 strength synonyms
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แรง often refers to directly exerted force, impact, or physical strength. กำลัง is broader and can include physical energy, ability, resources, or available personnel.