สำรวม
restrain oneself
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- 1 restrain oneself、keep (one's behavior or emotions) under control
- 2 composed and restrained、reserved and well-behaved
Describes keeping your words, behavior, or emotions under control and maintaining a restrained, respectful manner. It can also describe someone who appears composed and reserved.
restrain oneself、keep (one's behavior or emotions) under control
Means to consciously control one's speech, behavior, emotions, or impulses in order to remain restrained and respectful.
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เขาพยายามสำรวมกิริยาและวาจา khǎw phayaayaam sǎmruam kìríyaa lɛ́ waacaa He tries to be restrained in his words and actions. เขาพยายามสำรวมกิริยาและวาจา details
composed and restrained、reserved and well-behaved
Describes a person or manner that is composed, restrained, and respectfully quiet rather than openly emotional or boisterous.
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image is of keeping one's inner feelings and outward behavior within appropriate limits. As an action, it commonly appears in combinations such as สำรวมกิริยา “restrain one's behavior,” สำรวมวาจา “watch one's words,” and สำรวมใจ “control one's heart or emotions.” Used without an object, as in สำรวมหน่อย, it tells someone to exercise more restraint in their overall behavior. It can also describe an observable manner, as in ท่าทางสำรวม “a restrained, composed manner” or นั่งสำรวม “sit quietly and respectfully.” It implies decorum and self-control, not merely an absence of noise. The word is used outside religious settings but sounds somewhat formal and morally evaluative. In Buddhist contexts, it can refer to guarding the senses and mind against uncontrolled desire.
Usage
It is common in temples, ceremonies, prayer rooms, and situations involving elders or authority figures, where respectful restraint is expected. It is also used when urging someone to control their words or anger, or when describing a person's reserved and subdued manner.
Caution
For something that is merely quiet, สงบ or เงียบ is usually more appropriate. สำรวม implies that a person is deliberately exercising restraint and observing decorum. Saying สำรวมหน่อย directly to someone can sound reproachful because it suggests that their current behavior is improper.
Differences from similar words
1 restrain oneself synonyms
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ระวัง broadly means to be careful or watch out for danger or mistakes. สำรวม specifically focuses on restraining one's own speech, emotions, or behavior.
2 composed and restrained synonyms
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สงบ describes a person, place, situation, or mind as quiet or peaceful. สำรวม focuses on a person's deliberate restraint and decorous behavior.
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สุภาพ emphasizes politeness and courteous speech or behavior. สำรวม emphasizes holding oneself back and maintaining restraint.
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เรียบร้อย broadly means neat, proper, or well-behaved. สำรวม more strongly suggests a restrained, composed manner produced by self-control.