กระนั้น
Even So
กระนั้น (grà-nán) has a “like that” meaning and also appears introducing contrast. The surrounding clauses distinguish those uses.
How It Works
1. A Contrast In Context
In the running example, the sky threatens rain, but the person still chooses to run. กระนั้น introduces that contrasting point. A Royal Society essay likewise uses bare กระนั้น before a qualification of its preceding argument. These complete uses support an “even so” reading without establishing how frequent it is.
2. A Manner Reading
The dictionary gives “that” or “in that way.” In เหตุใดท่านจึงกล่าวกระนั้น, the phrase concerns speaking in that manner. Do not replace this reading with “nevertheless” just because the same word introduces contrast elsewhere.
3. Read Longer Expressions Together
The government example contains แม้กระนั้น, and the meeting example contains ถ้ากระนั้น. The latter presents a condition, “if that is so,” before the proposed meeting. Learn each complete expression and its clause context. A shared กระนั้น does not prove that every longer form can be substituted for every other one.
4. Distinguish Contrast From Consequence
The practice task asks for illness as the reason for going to a doctor. ฉะนั้น supplies the requested consequence link. A contrast reading needs a context that makes the second point hold despite the first. The matching sounds do not make these connectors equivalent.
5. Keep Comparisons Bounded
Plain อย่างนั้น can express “like that.” That does not make it an automatic replacement for a contrasting connector. Compare complete expressions in their settings rather than deriving them from a claimed prefix rule, ranking every variant by formality, or assuming that all speakers avoid one form.
Examples (4)
- ท้องฟ้ามืดครึ้มคล้ายฝนจะตก กระนั้นเขาก็ยังเลือกที่จะออกไปวิ่ง
The sky was dark as if it would rain; nevertheless, he still chose to go out for a run.
Word by Word: Sky dark cloudy similar rain will fall, even so he then still choose that will go out run.
The decision to run is presented as holding despite the threat of rain. กระนั้น introduces the contrast in this sentence.
- รัฐบาลประกาศให้เลิกใช้ฤกษ์ยาม แม้กระนั้นก็มีการแอบทำนายทายทักดวงชะตาของบ้านเมืองกันอยู่
The government announced the cessation of using auspicious times; nevertheless, there is still surreptitious fortune-telling regarding the nation's fate.
Word by Word: Government announce give quit use auspicious times, even so then have matter secret predict fate of country together stay.
The displayed example contrasts the announced ending of one practice with fortune-telling that continues. It is an illustrative sentence, not evidence of a verified government ban.
- เหตุใดท่านจึงกล่าวกระนั้น
Why did you speak in such a manner?
Word by Word: Reason what you therefore say like that.
กระนั้น describes speaking “like that” or “in that manner” in this sentence.
- <grammar expression="ถ้า">ถ้า</grammar>กระนั้น เรา<grammar expression="ก็ (then)">ก็</grammar><grammar expression="ควร">ควร</grammar>จะเริ่มการประชุม
If that is the case, we should start the meeting.
Word by Word: If like that, we then should will start the meeting.
When combined with ถ้า, it forms ถ้ากระนั้น meaning "if so" or "in that case".
Common Mistakes
Express The Contrast With แต่.
หิวมากเลย กระนั้นฉันจะรอเธอนะหิวมากเลย แต่ฉันจะรอเธอนะFor the version requested with แต่, choose the second sentence. The first also presents a contrast and is not rejected as ungrammatical. This task compares complete connector choices without claiming how often either occurs in conversation.
Confusing กระนั้น (contrast) with ฉะนั้น (result).
เขาป่วย กระนั้นเขาจึงไปหาหมอเขาป่วย ฉะนั้นเขาจึงไปหาหมอThe requested meaning presents illness as the reason for going to the doctor, so the second sentence uses ฉะนั้น for the consequence. Reading กระนั้น as “even so” would instead require a contrasting relation; the first sentence does not supply the requested consequence link. This does not classify every possible longer context containing these words.
How It Connects
Learn This First
กระนั้น is a literary concessive conjunction meaning 'even so' or 'nevertheless'. To understand it, learners need to be familiar with the demonstrative 'นั้น' (that) which forms its base, as well as how Thai handles contrastive and concessive logic in sentences.
- นี้ / นั้น / โน้นThis That and That Over There
The word กระนั้น is built upon the demonstrative นั้น (that), and understanding the concept of 'that' is essential for the meaning of 'even so' or 'like that'.
Level 1 - อย่างไรก็ตามHowever
Both patterns serve as concessive connectors; understanding the more common 'however' provides the functional context for the literary 'even so'.
Level 4
Related Patterns
- แต่But
แต่ can express contrast. Compare the complete sentence when choosing a connector.
Level 1 - ถึงแม้ว่าConcession with ถึงแม้ว่า
ถึงแม้ว่า can introduce a conceded point. Compare that clause structure with กระนั้น introducing the following contrast here.
Level 3 - ฉะนั้นConclusions and That Manner with ฉะนั้น
Compare a consequence introduced by ฉะนั้น with the contrast introduced by กระนั้น in the running example.
Level 6 - ทว่าBut and However with ทว่า
Compare ทว่า in its own contrasting constructions with กระนั้น here; no fixed register equivalence follows.
Level 5 - มิฉะนั้นOtherwise — Formal
มิฉะนั้น means “otherwise” in its own constructions. A similar ending does not give it the same discourse function as กระนั้น.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice กระนั้น in Bubblegum
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