กุญแจ
key
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 key、lock
- 2 key (to success or a solution)、essential factor
This word refers to a key or locking device used to secure and open something. Figuratively, it can also mean the essential thing that makes success or a solution possible.
key、lock
A key or lock used to secure and open a door, room, car, or similar object. In everyday conversation, it most often refers to the key that a person carries.
-
กุญแจรถอยู่ที่ไหน kuncɛɛ rót yùu thîi nǎy Where are the car keys? กุญแจรถอยู่ที่ไหน details
-
ช่วยไขกุญแจให้หน่อย chûay khǎy kuncɛɛ hây nɔ̀ɔy Could you unlock it for me? ช่วยไขกุญแจให้หน่อย details
key (to success or a solution)、essential factor
Something essential that opens the way to success, understanding, or a solution, much like a physical key opens a lock.
-
ความพยายามคือกุญแจสู่ความสำเร็จ khwaam pháyaayaam khʉʉ kuncɛɛ sùu khwaam sǎmrèt Effort is the key to success. ความพยายามคือกุญแจสู่ความสำเร็จ details
-
การสื่อสารเป็นกุญแจสำคัญของการทำงานเป็นทีม kaan sʉ̀ʉsǎan pen kuncɛɛ sǎmkhan khɔ̌ɔŋ kaan tham ŋaan pen thiim Communication is a key part of teamwork. การสื่อสารเป็นกุญแจสำคัญของการทำงานเป็นทีม details
Learning notes
Explanation
กุญแจ is the basic everyday word for a key associated with a house, room, car, or similar object. The thing it belongs to normally follows it, as in กุญแจบ้าน “house key” and กุญแจรถ “car key.” When a precise distinction is needed, ลูกกุญแจ means the key used to open a lock, while แม่กุญแจ means a padlock. In ordinary conversation, however, กุญแจ alone commonly means a key. The usual classifier for individual keys is ดอก, so กุญแจหนึ่งดอก means “one key.” The word is also used figuratively for something that makes a desired result possible, as in กุญแจสู่ความสำเร็จ, “the key to success.”
Usage
It is common when looking for house or car keys, handing over a key, or talking about locking and unlocking something. It is also used in discussions of study, work, relationships, and problem-solving to identify something essential for success.
Caution
Use ไขกุญแจ for unlocking something with a key, and เปิดประตู for opening the door itself. เปิดกุญแจ is generally not the natural expression for this action. A key card is normally called คีย์การ์ด, a password รหัสผ่าน, and a PIN or code รหัส. For a wrench, modern Thai normally uses ประแจ.
Differences from similar words
1 key synonyms
2 key (to success or a solution) synonyms
-
ปัจจัยสำคัญ directly and objectively means an important factor. กุญแจ is more figurative, presenting something as what opens the way to a desired result.