เหนือ
north; northern
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 north; northern、north of; above
- 2 superior; better、higher-ranking
- 3 beyond; exceeding、outside the reach or scope of
เหนือ places something on the “higher” side of a reference point—physically to the north or above, comparatively at a higher level, or figuratively beyond a limit.
north; northern、north of; above
Refers to the north or northern area and, more generally, to a position physically above a reference point.
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ภาคเหนือ phâak nʉ̌a Northern Thailand; the northern region ภาคเหนือ details
superior; better、higher-ranking
Describes someone or something as being at a higher level in ability, quality, status, or performance.
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เขาเหนือกว่าคู่แข่ง khǎw nʉ̌a kwàa khûu khɛ̀ŋ He is superior to his rival. เขาเหนือกว่าคู่แข่ง details
beyond; exceeding、outside the reach or scope of
Marks something as going beyond a standard, expectation, capacity, or other abstract limit.
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เหนือความคาดหมาย nʉ̌a khwaam khâat mǎay beyond expectations เหนือความคาดหมาย details
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เขามีความสามารถเหนือมนุษย์ khǎw mii khwaam sǎamâat nʉ̌a mánút He has superhuman abilities. เขามีความสามารถเหนือมนุษย์ details
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พลังเหนือธรรมชาติ phalaŋ nʉ̌a thammachâat supernatural power พลังเหนือธรรมชาติ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image of เหนือ is being on the higher side of a reference point. In physical space, it refers to north or to a position above something. It can follow a noun to identify a northern region, as in ภาคเหนือ “the northern region.” In relational phrases, ทางเหนือของกรุงเทพฯ means “north of Bangkok,” while เหนือเมือง means “above the city.” The same image extends to abstract comparisons. เหนือกว่า followed by the comparison target means “to be superior to” or “to outperform.” With nouns such as expectations, understanding, or ability, เหนือ means “beyond” the relevant limit.
Usage
It is common in travel, weather, and geography when referring to the north or a northern region. It also describes the position of objects, aircraft, the sun, and similar things above a reference point. เหนือกว่า frequently appears in comparisons involving sports, work, academic ability, or product performance. เหนือ is also used when discussing limits such as expectations, understanding, ability, authority, or the laws of nature.
Caution
Use บน rather than เหนือ when something rests on and touches a surface. หนังสืออยู่บนโต๊ะ means “The book is on the table,” whereas โคมไฟอยู่เหนือโต๊ะ means “The lamp is above the table.” For an explicit comparison, the clearest pattern is เหนือกว่า followed by the person or thing being compared. Also note that เหนือ commonly follows the noun in regional expressions such as ภาคเหนือ “the northern region.”
Differences from similar words
1 north; northern synonyms
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ทิศเหนือ explicitly names the compass direction north. เหนือ can also indicate that something is north of or physically above another thing.
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บน commonly means “on” a surface, often with contact. เหนือ usually means “above” or “over,” without implying contact.
2 superior; better synonyms
3 beyond; exceeding synonyms
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นอกเหนือจาก is a set expression meaning “apart from” or “in addition to.” เหนือ by itself describes something as being beyond a standard or limit.
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เกิน broadly means to exceed a quantity, degree, time, or limit. เหนือ often presents an abstract idea such as expectations, understanding, ability, or authority as a level or scope that something lies beyond.