On http://www.thai-language.com/dict/, it shows these two meanings for the word 'separately'

1. ต่างหาก dtaang(L) haak(L) adverb separately

2. แยกกัน yaaek(F) gan(M) adverb separately (pay, travel)

Just wondering what the difference is? (please use english phoentics for any thai words since I can't read thai)

Cheers,

WoZ

Separate or separately do not alwayes use the same Thai words and it depends what kind of "separation" you are talking about. Some of the thai words used in different combinations are:

ขาดกัน (Kat Gan)

แตกแยก (Taek Yaek)

แบ่งแยก (Baeng Yaek)

แยกกัน (Yaek Gan)

แยกทาง (Yaek Tang) = go in separate ways

แยกออก (Yaek Ok)

แย่งแยก (Yaeng Yaek)

เลิกกัน (Leuk Gan)

แยกจาก (yaek Jak) = separate from

ต่างหาก (Tang Hak) = is not "separately" in the regular English meaning and not much in use among Farang.

The word for "separately" is อย่างแบ่งแยก (Yang Baeng Yaek). Once you know the use of words like เลิก (Leuk), แยก (yaek), แบ่ (Baeng), คั่น (Kan) and other, you will be able to distinguish when to use which combination for a different separation, division or split.

1. ต่างหาก dtaang(L) haak(L) adverb separately

2. แยกกัน yaaek(F) gan(M) adverb separately (pay, travel)

Lexitron offers a sentence which shows the use of both terms:

ต่างหาก [dtàang hàak ] [ADV] separately; independently; on one's own; on the contrary; far from it

Sample:เขาแยกบ้านไปอยู่ต่างหากกับเมียของเขา

kăo yâek bâan bpai yòo dtàang hàak gàp mia kŏng kăo

"He left his home to go live separately with his wife."

แยกบ้าน yâek bâan = "to separate [implied "himself"] from his home"

อยู่ต่างหาก yòo dtàang hàak = "to live separately" [in this case, separate from his original home but together with his wife].

แยกกัน [yâek gan] [V] separate; part; split

Sample:อาชีพบางอาชีพทำให้คนในครอบครัวต้องแยกกัน

aa chêep baang aa chêep tam hâi kon nai krôp krua dtông yâek gan

"Some jobs and professions require members of a family to live apart from each other."

Note that ต่างหาก [dtàang hàak ] is an adverb while แยกกัน [yâek gan] is a verb form.

In the second Lexitron sample the verb is used to mean, literally, "the members in the family must separate from each other"

Thanks for the explination.

I also just realised that seperate in these two examples is even pronounced differently in the two contexts of the words above

'seperate the two people' (yâek)

'seperate rooms' (dtàang hàak)

Thanks again for the explanation.