ถดถอย
decline
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- 1 decline、deteriorate、regress
Describes something falling back from an earlier level or state of progress. It commonly refers to declining conditions or performance, and can also describe a loss of confidence or motivation.
decline、deteriorate、regress
Describes a condition, ability, or system declining from its previous level or losing earlier progress.
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เศรษฐกิจกำลังถดถอย sèetthakìt kamlaŋ thòt thɔ̌ɔy The economy is declining. เศรษฐกิจกำลังถดถอย details
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สุขภาพของเขาถดถอยลง sùkkhaphâap khɔ̌ɔŋ khǎw thòt thɔ̌ɔy loŋ His health deteriorated. สุขภาพของเขาถดถอยลง details
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ผลการเรียนถดถอยลงเรื่อยๆ phǒn kaan rian thòt thɔ̌ɔy loŋ rʉ̂ay rʉ̂ay The academic performance is steadily declining. ผลการเรียนถดถอยลงเรื่อยๆ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image is movement backward from a previous position, level, or state of progress. In modern usage, it usually describes an abstract decline in areas such as the economy, health, academic performance, ability, or social institutions rather than literal backward movement. Both ถด and ถอย carry an idea of moving back, but learners can treat ถดถอย as a single vocabulary item. The abstract nouns การถดถอย and ความถดถอย mean “decline,” “deterioration,” or “regression.” The word has a somewhat formal tone and is especially common in news reports, analysis, and other serious discussions.
Usage
It is commonly used when discussing an economic downturn, worsening health, falling performance or efficiency, or regression in political and social institutions. It can also describe someone becoming discouraged, though ย่อท้อ is a common alternative for that meaning.
Caution
For literal backward movement by a person or vehicle, use ถอย instead. If only an amount or number has decreased, ลดลง is usually more natural. ถดถอย implies an unfavorable retreat from an earlier condition or level of progress.
Differences from similar words
1 decline synonyms
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ลดลง broadly means that an amount or level decreases. ถดถอย suggests a decline from an earlier standard or a loss of previous progress.
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เสื่อมถอย strongly emphasizes decay or the weakening of quality, ability, or condition. ถดถอย is broader and is also commonly used for an economy or system falling back from an earlier level.