Tai
9
8.6
- noun
:
tai
- Many people in Southeast Asia speak a variety of Tai languages, including Thai and Lao.
Examples
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The Tai branch of languages includes both Thai and Lao, which are widely spoken in the region.
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The university offers a course on the Tai languages, focusing on Thai and Lao grammar.
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You can find tai chi classes through hospitals or at senior and community centers.
Academic text (2015) -
The patient with arthritis should not try to master tai chi by watching a video.
Academic text (2003) -
Five distinct styles of tai chi are taught, and many variations can be found within each style.
Academic text (2003) -
The woman and her husband studied tai chi, and they could go to Friday night class together again if Mei would agree.
Fiction book (1992) -
The schedule for karate and tai chi classes is now posted on the activity board.
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In the park early one morning, she'd chanced on a tai chi group, their slow motion a tribute to the indulgent Indian summer.
Fiction book (1998) -
A variety of fitness classes are offered, including aerobic, aquatic, and balance classes, yoga, and tai chi instruction.
Blog text (28) -
I take classes at the local university—clay working, oil painting, introduction to graphic design, tai chi, Russian.
Fiction book (2000)
Compounds
10
3.7
A slow, gentle Chinese exercise that uses smooth movements to relax and improve balance
A Tai language spoken in northern Vietnam by people living along the Red and Black rivers
- Specialized
A language of the Tai family spoken in northern Myanmar, especially Kachin and Sagaing
Slow flowing Chinese exercises that help relax the body, calm the mind, and improve balance
- Specialized
A group of Tai languages spoken in southern Thailand, especially in Surat Thani and Chumphon
Surface Forms
Etymology
Tai comes from the people's own old name for themselves and means 'people' or 'free'. So Tai is the name used for the family of languages spoken by those peoples, like Thai and Lao.