เหรียญ
coin
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 coin、digital coin
- 2 medal、medallion、military decoration、medallion-shaped amulet
- 3 dollar [colloquial]
- 4 [classifier for coins, medals, and medallions]
This word centers on the idea of a small, flat, coin-shaped object. It commonly refers to coins, medals, medallion-shaped amulets, and digital coins, and it also serves as their classifier.
coin、digital coin
A metal coin used as money, extended in modern contexts to virtual currencies and coin-like digital assets.
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ตู้หยอดเครื่องดื่มนี้รับเฉพาะเหรียญสิบบาท tûu yɔ̀ɔt khrʉ̂aŋ dʉ̀ʉm níi ráp chaphɔ́ rǐan sìp bàat This drink vending machine only accepts ten-baht coins. ตู้หยอดเครื่องดื่มนี้รับเฉพาะเหรียญสิบบาท details
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เก็บเหรียญในเกม kèp rǐan nay keem collect coins in a game เก็บเหรียญในเกม details
medal、medallion、military decoration、medallion-shaped amulet
A medal awarded for achievement or a medallion made for commemoration, decoration, or religious devotion.
dollar [colloquial]
In casual speech, it can stand for a dollar, especially a U.S. dollar, when stating an amount.
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อันนี้สิบเหรียญ an níi sìp rǐan This is ten dollars. อันนี้สิบเหรียญ details
[classifier for coins, medals, and medallions]
The classifier used for coins, medals, and similar flat medallions.
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เหรียญบาทสามเหรียญ rǐan bàat sǎam rǐan three one-baht coins เหรียญบาทสามเหรียญ details
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เหรียญทองสองเหรียญ rǐan thɔɔŋ sɔ̌ɔŋ rǐan two gold medals เหรียญทองสองเหรียญ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image is a small, flat disc like a coin. From this basic sense, the word extends to athletic medals, commemorative medallions, and coin-shaped Buddhist amulets. It is also used for virtual coins in games and for cryptocurrency coins in everyday discussion. A denomination can follow the word, as in เหรียญสิบบาท, “a ten-baht coin.” สิบบาท alone states an amount, while เหรียญสิบบาท explicitly identifies the physical coin. เหรียญ also functions as its own classifier. In เหรียญบาทสามเหรียญ, the first part names the one-baht coin and the final เหรียญ counts it. The general classifier อัน is sometimes possible, but เหรียญ is more specific for coins and medals.
Usage
It is common when handling change, inserting coins into machines, or discussing medals in sports. It also appears as เหรียญพระ in conversations about Buddhist amulets and as “coin” in gaming or cryptocurrency contexts. Words such as บาท, ทอง, พระ, and เกม usually make the intended meaning clear.
Caution
เหรียญ does not mean money in general. Use เงิน for money as a whole and ธนบัตร—or colloquially แบงก์—for a banknote. In sports, เหรียญทอง normally means “gold medal,” but in another context it may describe a coin or medallion made of gold. In cryptocurrency discussions, everyday Thai may use เหรียญ without strictly distinguishing a coin from a token.
Differences from similar words
1 coin synonyms
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เงิน means money in general, including both notes and coins. เหรียญ specifically refers to coins or things conceived of as coins.
2 medal synonyms
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พระเครื่อง is a broad term for small Buddhist amulets in various forms. เหรียญ can refer specifically to a flat, coin-shaped Buddhist medallion.
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รางวัล is a general award or prize and may be money or an object. เหรียญ refers specifically to the medal itself.
3 dollar [colloquial] synonyms
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ดอลลาร์ is the explicit, standard name of the currency unit. เหรียญ is an informal substitute used when the context makes it clear that dollars are meant.
4 [classifier for coins, medals, and medallions] synonyms
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อัน is a general-purpose classifier for many small objects. เหรียญ is the more specific classifier for coins, medals, and medallions.