เลี้ยว
turn
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 turn、change direction、turn (a vehicle, etc.)
A basic verb for changing direction or turning away from a straight course. It is used for people and vehicles making a turn, as well as for roads and similar routes that bend.
turn、change direction、turn (a vehicle, etc.)
Describes a person or vehicle changing course, or a road or route bending in another direction. With an object, it can also mean turning or steering that object.
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เลี้ยวขวาที่สี่แยกหน้า líaw khwǎa thîi sìi yɛ̂ɛk nâa turn right at the next intersection เลี้ยวขวาที่สี่แยกหน้า details
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เลี้ยวรถเข้าโรงแรม líaw rót khâw rooŋrɛɛm turn the car into the hotel เลี้ยวรถเข้าโรงแรม details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image of เลี้ยว is leaving a straight course and heading in another direction. It is a common, neutral word. เลี้ยวซ้าย “turn left” and เลี้ยวขวา “turn right” are especially frequent in directions. It can describe a person or vehicle making a turn, but it can also describe the course of a road, as in ถนนเลี้ยวไปทางขวา “the road bends to the right.” When followed by an object, as in เลี้ยวรถ, it can be used transitively to mean turning or steering a vehicle. The place where the turn occurs can follow ที่, the destination entered after turning can follow เข้า, and the new direction can follow ไปทาง.
Usage
It is frequently used when asking for or giving directions, telling a taxi driver where to go, and describing travel on foot, by bicycle, or by car. It is also common on road signs and in navigation instructions, and it can describe how a road or river bends.
Caution
เลี้ยว means making a turn, not necessarily going back. Use กลับรถ for making a U-turn. For rotating or twisting an object or part of the body in place, หมุน “rotate” or บิด “twist” is usually more appropriate.
Differences from similar words
1 turn synonyms
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หัก can describe sharply or decisively turning a steering wheel or changing course. เลี้ยว is the neutral, general verb for making a turn, whether or not it is sudden.
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เปลี่ยนทิศทาง is a broader, more explicit expression meaning “change direction.” เลี้ยว is more natural for physically making a turn, especially when traveling on a road.