west
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 west、western side、western region
- 2 Western、Western-style
- 3 the West、the Western world
This word primarily means “west,” the direction where the sun sets. It also refers to Western countries, societies, and culture.
west、western side、western region
The direction in which the sun sets, or the western side of a place or region.
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มุ่งหน้าไปทางตะวันตก mûŋ nâa pay thaaŋ tawan tòk head west มุ่งหน้าไปทางตะวันตก details
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พระอาทิตย์ตกทางทิศตะวันตก phrá aathít tòk thaaŋ thít tawan tòk The sun sets in the west. พระอาทิตย์ตกทางทิศตะวันตก details
Western、Western-style
Describes something associated with Western countries, societies, culture, or customs.
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วัฒนธรรมตะวันตก wátthanátham tawan tòk Western culture วัฒนธรรมตะวันตก details
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อาหารตะวันตก aahǎan tawan tòk Western food อาหารตะวันตก details
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แนวคิดตะวันตก nɛɛw khít tawan tòk Western ideas แนวคิดตะวันตก details
the West、the Western world
Western countries and societies considered collectively as a cultural or geopolitical region.
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ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างไทยกับตะวันตก khwaam sǎmphan ráwàaŋ thay kàp tawan tòk relations between Thailand and the West ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างไทยกับตะวันตก details
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แนวคิดนี้มาจากตะวันตก nɛɛw khít níi maa càak tawan tòk This idea came from the West. แนวคิดนี้มาจากตะวันตก details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core meaning of ตะวันตก is “west.” It is historically transparent as ตะวัน, “sun,” plus ตก, “fall” or “set,” giving the image of the side where the sun goes down. ทิศตะวันตก explicitly identifies the western direction. ทางตะวันตกของ～ is commonly used for “west of” or “on the western side of,” while ภาคตะวันตก refers to a western region. The word also extends from geographic west to the cultural or geopolitical idea of “the West.” Because Thai modifiers normally follow nouns, วัฒนธรรมตะวันตก means “Western culture,” and อาหารตะวันตก means “Western food.” In ตะวันตกดิน, however, ตะวัน means “the sun” and ตกดิน describes it going below the horizon. Learners should distinguish that construction from the established direction word ตะวันตก.
Usage
It is common in maps, directions, descriptions of location, weather reports, and regional names. It is also widely used when discussing Western food, culture, education, ideas, history, and politics. The word is natural in both conversation and formal writing.
Caution
ประเทศตะวันตก means “Western countries” as a cultural or political category, not simply countries located to the west of the speaker. Which countries it includes depends on context. To express movement toward the west, Thai commonly uses ทาง, as in ไปทางตะวันตก.
Differences from similar words
1 west synonyms
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ทิศตะวันตก explicitly names the western direction. ตะวันตก can mean “west” by itself, but ทิศตะวันตก is common when identifying a precise compass direction.
2 Western synonyms
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ฝรั่ง is a more colloquial term used for Western people and things associated with them. ตะวันตก is more neutral and works well in objective discussions of culture, ideas, society, and international affairs.