ไว
fast
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 fast、quick、swift
- 2 sensitive (to a stimulus or change)、responsive
A common word describing something that moves, happens, or responds with little delay.
fast、quick、swift
Describes a person, thing, or process that moves or progresses with little delay.
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เด็กคนนี้โตไว dèk khon níi too way This child grows quickly. เด็กคนนี้โตไว details
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คอมเครื่องนี้ทำงานไว khɔɔm khrʉ̂aŋ níi tham ŋaan way This computer runs fast. คอมเครื่องนี้ทำงานไว details
sensitive (to a stimulus or change)、responsive
Describes someone or something that readily detects or reacts to a stimulus or change.
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ฉันเป็นคนไวต่อความรู้สึก chǎn pen khon way tɔ̀ɔ khwaam rúu sʉ̀k I'm a sensitive person. ฉันเป็นคนไวต่อความรู้สึก details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of ไว is that something moves, develops, or reacts with very little delay. It can describe a quality (“fast” or “quick”) or modify an action (“quickly”). Thai does not always draw a sharp grammatical boundary between these uses. The pattern ไวต่อ + noun means “sensitive to.” ไว also combines with body-part words to describe abilities or habits, as in หัวไว “quick-witted,” ตาไว “quick to notice,” and หูไว “quick to hear or learn information.”
Usage
It is common in everyday conversation when talking about fast movement, efficient machines, rapid growth, or prompt reactions. It is also used for sensitivity to physical or emotional stimuli and in expressions describing quick thinking or perception.
Caution
Although ไว and เร็ว overlap widely, ไว is generally not the usual choice for “early” in clock time; เร็ว or เช้า is used depending on the context. Expressions such as ปากไว (“quick to blurt things out”) and มือไว (“quick to use one's hands,” sometimes implying inappropriate touching or stealing) can be negative. Do not confuse ไว with ไว้, a different word meaning “to keep, put, or do something in advance.”
Differences from similar words
1 fast synonyms
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รวดเร็ว means “rapid” or “prompt” and is common in somewhat more formal descriptions and writing. ไว is shorter and especially natural in everyday speech.
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เร็ว is the most general word for speed and for something occurring early. ไว often suggests quick movement, efficient functioning, or a prompt response.