Friends,

Lexitron has the following sentence in illustrating the phrase "ก็ตามที" ([ADV] somehow; whatever; however Syn. ตามที):เขากุมอำนาจการเมืองไว้อย่างเหนียวแน่นแม้ว่าสังขารจะไม่ค่อยเอื้ออำนวยก็ตามที

Please help me understand the meaning in this context of "สังขารจะไม่ค่อยเอื้ออำนวย". Might it be?

1. He seized full and complete control over political power even though he was physically not quite up to the job.

2. He seized full and complete control over political power even though his body did not seem to support him (in this role).

3. He seized full and complete control over political power even though he did not quite look the part.

The following sentence from seems to parallel the above usage:

ใครที่มาขอให้ท่านช่วย หลวงพ่อไม่เคยขัด รวมทั้งกิจนิมนต์ต่างๆ ไม่ว่าใกล้-ไกลท่านก็เมตตาไปให้ แม้สุขภาพร่างกายจะไม่ค่อยเอื้ออำนวยนักก็ตาม

What do you think? Thanks for your assistance.

Edited August 24, 200916 yr by DavidHouston

Friends,

Lexitron has the following sentence in illustrating the phrase "ก็ตามที" ([ADV] somehow; whatever; however Syn. ตามที):เขากุมอำนาจการเมืองไว้อย่างเหนียวแน่นแม้ว่าสังขารจะไม่ค่อยเอื้ออำนวยก็ตามที

Please help me understand the meaning in this context of "สังขารจะไม่ค่อยเอื้ออำนวย".......

It seems to me you have it already.

I might suggest the following:

"He firmly maintained political control despite shaky health."

It is interesting that Lexitron doesn't list "despite" for "ก็ตามที".

Hopefully, yoot will add an opinion here.

Friends,

Lexitron has the following sentence in illustrating the phrase "ก็ตามที" ([ADV] somehow; whatever; however Syn. ตามที):เขากุมอำนาจการเมืองไว้อย่างเหนียวแน่นแม้ว่าสังขารจะไม่ค่อยเอื้ออำนวยก็ตามที

Please help me understand the meaning in this context of "สังขารจะไม่ค่อยเอื้ออำนวย".......

It seems to me you have it already.

I might suggest the following:

"He firmly maintained political control despite shaky health."

It is interesting that Lexitron doesn't list "despite" for "ก็ตามที".

Hopefully, yoot will add an opinion here.

I totally agree with your translation.

'despite' is a good translation for the sentence construction แม้ว่า .....ก็ตามที.

Khun David,

1. He seized full and complete control over political power even though he was physically not quite up to the job.

The No.1 is the meaning of the whole context.

"สังขารจะไม่ค่อยเอื้ออำนวย" can be unhealthy or too old for doing something.

No. 1 Ka but this is a funny and ironic way of saying you're physically challenged for doing something lol it can imply that you're too old or unhealthy or short or ugly whatever..

No. 1 Ka but this is a funny and ironic way of saying you're physically challenged for doing something lol it can imply that you're too old or unhealthy or short or ugly whatever..

So you are saying that it is not admirable? The first predicate กุมอำนาจ; is that a normal way of aquiring power? and what about อย่างเหนียวแน่น is that a manner of grabbing? is it more like hang on doggedly( tenaciously, like a dog with a bone, wont let go?) What I am getting to is; could it perhaps be grab and hang on doggedly to power, is that a bad thing? what does it mean to you in English?

กุมอำนาจ "to hold power" or "to wield power" ,(power which is already possessed)

ยึดอำนาจ - "to grab or seize power"

From Lexitron, and my understanding of the two terms as well.

กุมอำนาจ "to hold power" or "to wield power" ,(power which is already possessed)

ยึดอำนาจ - "to grab or seize power"

From Lexitron, and my understanding of the two terms as well.

Thank you, Leftnose, that is a great distinction.

กุมอำนาจ "to hold power" or "to wield power" ,(power which is already possessed)

ยึดอำนาจ - "to grab or seize power"

From Lexitron, and my understanding of the two terms as well.

Thanks, I just thought I would take the opportunity of asking; so it is not to 'grab', but just to 'hold' power อย่างเหนียวแน่น the manner, is the issue then. I was hoping to find out if the poster took this to be derogatory.

My understanding of อย่างเหนียวแน่น is not derogatory, in itself, at all.