ปั่น
spin
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 spin、rotate、spin (thread)、spin-dry
- 2 pedal、ride a bicycle
- 3 blend
- 4 stir up、provoke、manipulate、mislead
- 5 rush to finish [slang]、crank out (work) [slang]
Its core image is making something spin. By extension, it can mean pedaling a bicycle, blending food or drinks, stirring up people or public attention, or rushing to finish a task.
spin、rotate、spin (thread)、spin-dry
Causes an object or mechanism to rotate continuously, including spinning thread, spin-drying laundry, and turning a generator.
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เครื่องซักผ้ากำลังปั่นผ้า khrʉ̂aŋ sák phâa kamlaŋ pàn phâa The washing machine is spin-drying the clothes. เครื่องซักผ้ากำลังปั่นผ้า details
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เครื่องปั่นไฟไม่ทำงาน khrʉ̂aŋ pàn fay mây tham ŋaan The generator isn't working. เครื่องปั่นไฟไม่ทำงาน details
pedal、ride a bicycle
Means to propel a bicycle or similar vehicle by turning its pedals, and can also refer more generally to cycling.
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ฉันปั่นจักรยานไปทำงานทุกวัน chǎn pàn càkkrayaan pay thamŋaan thúk wan I ride my bicycle to work every day. ฉันปั่นจักรยานไปทำงานทุกวัน details
blend
Uses rapidly rotating blades to break down and mix ingredients. In drink names, it describes a blended or icy drink.
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ปั่นผลไม้กับน้ำแข็ง pàn phǒnlamáay kàp náam khɛ̌ŋ Blend the fruit with ice. ปั่นผลไม้กับน้ำแข็ง details
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ขอน้ำแตงโมปั่นหนึ่งแก้ว khɔ̌ɔ náam tɛɛŋ moo pàn nʉ̀ŋ kɛ̂ɛw One blended watermelon drink, please. ขอน้ำแตงโมปั่นหนึ่งแก้ว details
stir up、provoke、manipulate、mislead
Means to deliberately stir up, manipulate, or destabilize people, public attention, or a market, usually with a negative implication.
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มีคนปั่นกระแสในโซเชียล mii khon pàn krasɛ̌ɛ nay soochian Someone is stirring up attention on social media. มีคนปั่นกระแสในโซเชียล details
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อย่ามาปั่นหัวฉัน yàa maa pàn hǔa chǎn Stop messing with my head. อย่ามาปั่นหัวฉัน details
rush to finish [slang]、crank out (work) [slang]
Informally means to work intensely and quickly to finish a task, especially when facing a deadline.
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เมื่อคืนฉันปั่นรายงานจนเสร็จ mʉ̂a khʉʉn chǎn pàn raayŋaan con sèt I rushed through the report and finished it last night. เมื่อคืนฉันปั่นรายงานจนเสร็จ details
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ต้องปั่นงานให้ทันพรุ่งนี้ tɔ̂ŋ pàn ŋaan hây than phrûŋníi I have to crank out this work by tomorrow. ต้องปั่นงานให้ทันพรุ่งนี้ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image of ปั่น is applying force to make something rotate continuously. Its natural English translation depends heavily on the object. With ด้าย it means “spin thread”; with ผ้า, “spin-dry clothes”; with จักรยาน, “pedal or ride a bicycle”; and with ผลไม้, “blend fruit.” The idea of setting something in motion also produces figurative uses such as stirring up public opinion, manipulating stock prices, or messing with someone's head. In modern informal speech, it can also describe working intensely to finish a task before a deadline.
Usage
It is common when talking about cycling, making blended drinks, and using a washing machine's spin cycle. In cafés and restaurants, it often appears in drink names such as น้ำผลไม้ปั่น. In news coverage, it is used for market manipulation or attempts to manufacture public interest. On social media, it can describe baiting or provoking people. Students and coworkers also use it informally for rushing through assignments or other deadline-driven work.
Caution
Without an object or clear context, ปั่น can be ambiguous, so it is usually understood through combinations such as ปั่นจักรยาน, ปั่นผลไม้, or ปั่นหุ้น. ขี่จักรยาน also means to ride a bicycle, but ขี่ focuses on riding while ปั่น highlights pedaling. Figurative uses involving people, public opinion, or markets are often accusatory. The “rush to finish” use, as in ปั่นงาน, is informal and is generally unsuitable for formal writing.
Differences from similar words
1 spin synonyms
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หมุน is the general word for turning or rotating and can describe either something turning or someone turning it. ปั่น more often suggests actively producing continuous rotation and is also used for specific processes such as spinning thread or spin-drying.
2 pedal synonyms
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ขี่จักรยาน is the general expression for riding a bicycle. ปั่นจักรยาน emphasizes pedaling and is especially common when talking about cycling for transportation, exercise, or recreation.
3 blend synonyms
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ผสม means to mix or combine ingredients in general and does not imply using a machine. ปั่น typically means blending ingredients with rotating blades, often breaking them into smaller pieces.
4 stir up synonyms
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ยุยง focuses on inciting someone to take action or start conflict. ปั่น is broader and often more conversational, covering the deliberate manipulation of emotions, reactions, online attention, or markets.