แทน
instead of
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 instead of、in place of
- 2 substitute for、replace、represent
- 3 repay、return a favor、compensate
- 4 tan、sun-browned
The core idea is that one person, thing, or action takes the place of another. It is used for substitution, acting on someone’s behalf, and representing someone or something. There is also a separate loanword meaning “tan.”
instead of、in place of
Marks the person, thing, or action that is being replaced: “instead of” or “in place of.”
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ใช้ปากกาแทนดินสอ cháy pàakkaa thɛɛn dinsɔ̌ɔ Use a pen instead of a pencil. ใช้ปากกาแทนดินสอ details
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กินข้าวแทนขนม kin khâaw thɛɛn khanǒm Eat rice instead of snacks. กินข้าวแทนขนม details
substitute for、replace、represent
Means to substitute for, represent, or take the place of someone or something.
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น้ำผึ้งแทนน้ำตาลได้ náam phʉ̂ŋ thɛɛn námtaan dâay Honey can substitute for sugar. น้ำผึ้งแทนน้ำตาลได้ details
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เขาพูดแทนทุกคน khǎw phûut thɛɛn thúk khon He spoke on behalf of everyone. เขาพูดแทนทุกคน details
repay、return a favor、compensate
Means to repay, return, or respond to what one has received. In everyday use it is especially common inside compounds such as ตอบแทน and ทดแทน.
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ตอบแทนบุญคุณ tɔ̀ɔp thɛɛn bun khun repay someone’s kindness ตอบแทนบุญคุณ details
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แทนคุณพ่อแม่ thɛɛn khun phɔ̂ɔ mɛ̂ɛ repay one’s parents’ kindness แทนคุณพ่อแม่ details
tan、sun-browned
A separate loanword from English “tan,” used to describe tan or sun-browned skin.
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ผิวแทน phǐw thɛɛn tan skin ผิวแทน details
Learning notes
Explanation
แทน is easiest to understand as “one thing enters the place, role, or function of another.” A key pattern is ใช้ A แทน B, meaning “use A instead of B.” With people, it often means acting on someone’s behalf or representing a group, as in ไปแทนคุณ or พูดแทนทุกคน. For repayment, learners will most often meet it in compounds such as ตอบแทน “repay” and ค่าตอบแทน “compensation.” The แทน in ผิวแทน is different: it is a loanword from English “tan.”
Usage
It is common in everyday situations where one ingredient, tool, plan, or person replaces another. In work settings, it appears in contexts such as attending on someone’s behalf, speaking for a group, alternatives, compensation, and representation. In beauty and fashion contexts, ผิวแทน “tan skin” is also common.
Caution
Be careful with word order: ใช้ A แทน B means “use A instead of B,” so reversing A and B reverses the meaning. Also, when you only mean “for” as a purpose, เพื่อ is usually the natural choice, not แทน.
Differences from similar words
1 instead of synonyms
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เพื่อ expresses purpose, “for” or “in order to.” แทน is about substitution: something is taking the place of something else.
2 substitute for synonyms
3 repay synonyms
4 tan synonyms
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คล้ำ means dark or dull in color and can sound less flattering. แทน is a loanword often used more neutrally or stylishly for tan skin.