ไล่
chase
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 chase、run after、pursue
- 2 drive away、chase away、kick out
- 3 go through one by one、check step by step、work through in order
ไล่ is a verb built around the idea of pushing or following something forward from behind. It can mean to chase, drive away, fire someone, or go through items step by step.
chase、run after、pursue
This sense means to chase or pursue a person, animal, or target, either physically or in a pursuit-like context.
-
หมาไล่แมว mǎa lây mɛɛw The dog chases the cat. หมาไล่แมว details
-
ตำรวจไล่จับคนร้าย tamrùat lây càp khon ráay The police chase and catch the criminal. ตำรวจไล่จับคนร้าย details
drive away、chase away、kick out
This sense means to drive someone or something away, making it leave a place or move away from you.
-
ไล่ยุง lây yuŋ drive away mosquitoes ไล่ยุง details
go through one by one、check step by step、work through in order
This sense means to go through items one by one, such as a list, steps, lines, or possible causes.
-
ไล่ดูรายชื่อ lây duu raay chʉ̂ʉ go through the list of names ไล่ดูรายชื่อ details
Show more (1)
-
อ่านไล่ไปทีละบรรทัด àan lây pay thii lá banthát read through it line by line อ่านไล่ไปทีละบรรทัด details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image of ไล่ is chasing from behind or pushing something onward. From that image come the meanings “chase,” “drive away,” “kick out,” and “fire someone.” It is also used when your attention moves through things in order, like going through a list, lines of text, or steps in a process. Learners should pay attention to common combinations such as ไล่ตาม “chase after,” ไล่ออก “kick out/fire,” ไล่ดู “look through,” and ไล่เช็ก “check one by one.”
Usage
This word is common in everyday speech, workplaces, school settings, and problem-solving situations. You will hear it when people talk about chasing animals, shooing insects away, firing someone, or checking lists and procedures step by step.
Caution
ไล่เขา by itself can be ambiguous: it may mean “chase him” or “drive him out.” Use clearer forms such as ไล่ตาม, ไล่ออก, or ไล่จับ when needed. For firing someone, ไล่ออก is direct; เลิกจ้าง is safer in formal or administrative contexts.
Differences from similar words
1 chase synonyms
-
ตาม mainly means to follow or go after someone. ไล่ is stronger and suggests chasing, pursuing, or pushing the target forward.
2 drive away synonyms
-
ขับไล่ is more formal or forceful, often meaning to expel or drive out. ไล่ is the everyday word used for anything from shooing insects away to kicking someone out.
3 go through one by one synonyms
-
ตรวจ means to inspect or check. ไล่ emphasizes moving through items in sequence, such as checking a list or troubleshooting step by step.