เดิม
original
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- 1 original、former、previous
- 2 the same as before、the usual
This word points back to an earlier state or reference point, describing something as original, unchanged, or formerly the case.
original、former、previous
Describes a person, thing, or state that existed before a change or replacement.
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ใช้ชื่อเดิม cháy chʉ̂ʉ dəəm use the original name ใช้ชื่อเดิม details
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ราคายังเท่าเดิม raakhaa yaŋ thâw dəəm The price is still unchanged. ราคายังเท่าเดิม details
the same as before、the usual
Describes the same person, thing, or choice as before, often implying that it remains unchanged or customary.
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เจอกันที่เดิมนะ cəə kan thîi dəəm ná Let's meet at the usual place. เจอกันที่เดิมนะ details
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เขายังเป็นคนเดิม khǎw yaŋ pen khon dəəm He is still the same person. เขายังเป็นคนเดิม details
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เอาเมนูเดิมครับ aw meenuu dəəm khráp I'll have the usual, please. เอาเมนูเดิมครับ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central idea of เดิม is an earlier state used as the point of reference. It frequently follows a noun: ชื่อเดิม is an original or former name, เจ้าของเดิม a former owner, คนเดิม the same person as before, and ที่เดิม the previous or usual place. Useful expressions to learn as units include เหมือนเดิม (“the same as before”), ตามเดิม (“as usual/as before”), and เดิมที or แต่เดิม (“originally/formerly”). It is common in both conversation and explanatory writing.
Usage
Use เดิม when discussing a name, price, owner, plan, or condition before it changed; when choosing the same person, item, or place again; or when returning something to its previous place or state. เดิมที and แต่เดิม are especially useful when explaining the earlier history of a person, place, or plan.
Caution
เดิม does not simply mean “old.” เก่า focuses on age, wear, or long use, while เดิม relates something to its state before a change or identifies it as the same as before. Also, adverbial เดิม by itself can sound somewhat expository; เมื่อก่อน is often more natural in casual conversation when simply referring to the past.
Differences from similar words
1 original synonyms
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ดั้งเดิม often suggests something traditional or preserved from its earliest form. เดิม is broader and can refer simply to a name, owner, or state before a recent change.
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เก่า emphasizes age or long use. เดิม instead identifies what existed before a change, whether or not it is old.
2 the same as before synonyms
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ประจำ describes something regularly used or associated with someone, such as a usual shop or regular customer. เดิม can simply mean the same one as on a previous occasion, without implying a long-standing habit.
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เหมือนเดิม explicitly means “the same as before,” usually describing a state or manner. เดิม can directly follow a noun to identify the same person or thing, as in คนเดิม.