inexperienced
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 inexperienced、unskilled
Describes someone who has not yet gained enough practice or experience to be fully skilled or competent.
inexperienced、unskilled
Describes a person or their ability as not yet fully developed because of limited experience or practice.
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เขายังอ่อนหัดเรื่องธุรกิจ khǎw yaŋ ɔ̀ɔnhàt rʉ̂aŋ thúrákìt He is still inexperienced in business. เขายังอ่อนหัดเรื่องธุรกิจ details
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นักมวยอ่อนหัด nákmuay ɔ̀ɔnhàt an inexperienced boxer นักมวยอ่อนหัด details
Learning notes
Explanation
อ่อนหัด combines อ่อน, suggesting weakness or immaturity, with หัด, meaning to practice or begin learning. It refers specifically to insufficient experience, training, skill, or judgment—not simply to being young. It can follow a noun, as in นักมวยอ่อนหัด (“an inexperienced boxer”), or function as the predicate in เขายังอ่อนหัด (“He is still inexperienced”). The common phrase ยังอ่อนหัด often suggests that improvement is possible with more experience.
Usage
It is commonly used when discussing work, business, sports, creative pursuits, or other areas where practical experience affects performance. It may be used to evaluate a newcomer or self-deprecatingly to acknowledge that one still has much to learn.
Caution
Saying คุณอ่อนหัด (“You are inexperienced”) directly to someone can sound condescending or provocative. Use มือใหม่ for the more neutral idea of “beginner.” อ่อนหัด also does not ordinarily mean emotionally immature in a general sense.
Differences from similar words
1 inexperienced synonyms
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ขาดประสบการณ์ is a more objective, descriptive way to say that someone lacks experience. อ่อนหัด is more direct and more likely to sound judgmental.
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มือใหม่ neutrally refers to someone who is new to an activity. อ่อนหัด evaluates that person as lacking sufficient experience or skill, so it can sound more critical.