สำนัก
bureau
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 bureau、agency、institution
- 2 school of thought、school、tradition
สำนัก refers to an organization or center devoted to a particular activity, or to a school or tradition united by shared ideas or practices. In modern Thai, it commonly appears as part of a compound or an official name.
bureau、agency、institution
An organization, bureau, or center responsible for a particular official or specialized activity.
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สำนักข่าวรายงานเรื่องนี้ sǎmnák khàaw raay ŋaan rʉ̂aŋ níi The news agency reported the story. สำนักข่าวรายงานเรื่องนี้ details
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สำนักหมอดู sǎmnák mɔ̌ɔ duu a fortune-teller's office สำนักหมอดู details
school of thought、school、tradition
A school or tradition whose members share a body of thought, teaching, or practice.
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นักบวชจากสำนักเดียวกัน nákbùat càak sǎmnák diaw kan members of the same religious order นักบวชจากสำนักเดียวกัน details
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เขาเรียนมวยมาจากหลายสำนัก khǎw rian muay maa càak lǎay sǎmnák He studied Muay Thai under several schools. เขาเรียนมวยมาจากหลายสำนัก details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image of สำนัก is a body or center where people gather around a particular activity, purpose, teaching, or tradition. In modern Thai, it is especially common in compounds and formal names connected with government, news, publishing, and other specialized fields. It also refers to a school or tradition in philosophy, scholarship, art, or martial arts. Some dictionaries list “residence” or “abode,” but that use is limited in contemporary everyday Thai. Learners will get the most value from recognizing สำนัก in institutional compounds and in the sense of a school or tradition. แห่ง may be used when counting institutions or locations, while สำนัก itself can count distinct schools or traditions.
Usage
It commonly appears in official names of government or academic bodies and in discussions of news and publishing. It is also used when describing affiliation with a philosophical, academic, artistic, or martial-arts school.
Caution
สำนัก is not a general word for every company or office. Use บริษัท for a company and สำนักงาน or ออฟฟิศ for an ordinary office. In the sense of “school,” it usually means a school of thought or tradition, not an ordinary educational school, which is โรงเรียน.
Differences from similar words
1 bureau synonyms
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สำนักงาน usually means an office or an administrative workplace. สำนัก more often presents an organization as an official or specialized body and is especially common in formal names and compounds.
2 school of thought synonyms
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สาย broadly describes a lineage or branch, including a chain of teachers or a particular style. สำนัก emphasizes an organized school or group sharing the same teachings, ideas, or practices.