spirit medium
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- 1 spirit medium、medium
It refers to a person believed to become possessed by a deity or spirit and communicate its words or wishes.
spirit medium、medium
A person regarded as a human vessel through whom a deity or spirit speaks or acts.
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ชาวบ้านไปหาคนทรง chaaw bâan pay hǎa khon soŋ The villagers went to see a spirit medium. ชาวบ้านไปหาคนทรง details
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ระหว่างพิธี คนทรงเริ่มเข้าทรง ráwàaŋ phíthii khon soŋ rə̂əm khâw soŋ During the ceremony, the medium began to enter a state of spirit possession. ระหว่างพิธี คนทรงเริ่มเข้าทรง details
Learning notes
Explanation
คนทรง is a noun for a person believed to serve as a living vessel for a deity or spirit. The spirit may be understood to speak, give advice, make predictions, or express its wishes through that person. It does not simply mean someone who is sensitive to supernatural phenomena. The central idea is spirit possession and communication through a human medium. The usual classifier for counting such people is คน.
Usage
The word commonly appears in discussions of folk-religious ceremonies, consultations with spirits, local festivals, and supernatural beliefs. It is also used in news reports, films, dramas, and ghost stories. A speaker can use it descriptively without personally endorsing the belief.
Caution
Unlike the broad English word “psychic,” คนทรง does not cover everyone believed to have supernatural perception. It is also distinct from หมอดู, a fortune-teller, and หมอผี, a shaman or ritual specialist. When referring to a real person, use the term respectfully because it concerns personal identity and religious belief.
Differences from similar words
1 spirit medium synonyms
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ร่างทรง originally emphasizes the body or vessel inhabited by a spirit, though it commonly refers to the person serving in that role. คนทรง more directly denotes the person as a spirit medium.
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หมอดู is a general term for a fortune-teller who may use astrology, palm reading, cards, or other methods. คนทรง specifically refers to someone believed to communicate through spirit possession.