bicycle
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 bicycle
This word refers to a bicycle, a vehicle propelled by pedaling. It can sound more traditional or regional than the usual word จักรยาน.
bicycle
A bicycle propelled by pushing its pedals with the feet.
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รถถีบคันนี้เก่ามาก rót thìip khan níi kàw mâak This bicycle is very old. รถถีบคันนี้เก่ามาก details
Learning notes
Explanation
รถ means “vehicle,” and ถีบ means to push forcefully with the foot or press down using the foot. Together, the word evokes a vehicle moved by pedaling. Use ขี่ for riding it: ขี่รถถีบ means “to ride a bicycle.” The vehicle classifier คัน is used when counting bicycles, as in รถถีบหนึ่งคัน, “one bicycle.” จักรยาน is now the more widely used term, though รถถีบ remains an ordinary everyday word for some speakers and in some regions.
Usage
It is often heard in conversation about everyday transportation in rural areas, childhood memories, older ways of life, or cycling to school. For some speakers and in some regions, it is simply the normal everyday word for a bicycle.
Caution
Although ถีบ by itself can mean “kick” or “push forcefully with the foot,” รถถีบ is a noun meaning “bicycle.” จักรยาน or รถจักรยาน is generally safer in formal signage and product descriptions. A pedal-powered three-wheeler is specified as รถสามล้อถีบ.
Differences from similar words
1 bicycle synonyms
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จักรยาน is the standard, widely used modern term for a bicycle. รถถีบ refers to the same vehicle but may sound more colloquial, regional, or old-fashioned depending on the speaker and setting.
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รถจักรยาน is a standard full-form term suitable for signs and general descriptions. รถถีบ is more likely to occur in informal speech or in descriptions of traditional and past ways of life.