ตื่น
wake up
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 wake up、be awake
- 2 be alarmed、become agitated、be excited
This common word primarily describes waking from sleep. It also carries the idea of suddenly heightened awareness or emotion, especially in compounds referring to alarm or excitement.
wake up、be awake
Describes becoming conscious after sleep; it does not necessarily mean getting out of bed.
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ตื่นหรือยัง? tʉ̀ʉn rʉ̌ʉ yaŋ Are you awake yet? ตื่นหรือยัง? details
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วันนี้ตื่นสาย wan níi tʉ̀ʉn sǎay I woke up late today. วันนี้ตื่นสาย details
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พรุ่งนี้ต้องตื่นเช้า phrûŋníi tɔ̂ŋ tʉ̀ʉn cháaw I have to wake up early tomorrow. พรุ่งนี้ต้องตื่นเช้า details
be alarmed、become agitated、be excited
Describes becoming suddenly alarmed, emotionally stirred, or highly excited. In modern usage, this sense is most often found in established compounds.
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อย่าตื่นตกใจเกินเหตุ yàa tʉ̀ʉn tòk cay kəən hèet Don't panic unnecessarily. อย่าตื่นตกใจเกินเหตุ details
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ทุกคนตื่นเต้นมาก thúk khon tʉ̀ʉntên mâak Everyone is very excited. ทุกคนตื่นเต้นมาก details
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อย่าตื่นตูมไปก่อน yàa tʉ̀ʉntuum pay kɔ̀ɔn Don't jump to conclusions and panic yet. อย่าตื่นตูมไปก่อน details
Learning notes
Explanation
The most common and basic meaning of ตื่น is “to wake up.” Everyday patterns include ตื่นแล้ว (“already awake”), ยังไม่ตื่น (“not awake yet”), and ตื่นตอนหกโมง (“wake up at six”). ตื่น is intransitive: it describes the sleeper becoming awake. To say that someone wakes another person, use ปลุก. The fuller expression ปลุกให้ตื่น means “wake someone so that they become awake.” The word also suggests the senses or emotions suddenly becoming active. This idea is especially clear in compounds such as ตื่นเต้น (“be excited, thrilled, or nervous”) and ตื่นตกใจ (“become startled and alarmed”). Using ตื่น alone for alarm is less common than its basic sleep-related use.
Usage
It is extremely common when talking about wake-up times, sleeping late, alarms, and morning routines. ตื่นหรือยัง? (“Are you awake yet?”) is a natural question among family members and friends. In situations involving sudden alarm, anticipation, excitement, or nervousness, it usually appears in compounds such as ตื่นตกใจ and ตื่นเต้น.
Caution
ตื่น means becoming awake and does not necessarily imply getting out of bed. Use ลุก or ลุกขึ้น for physically getting up, and ลุกจากที่นอน for getting out of bed. To express waking another person, use ปลุก rather than ตื่น.
Differences from similar words
1 wake up synonyms
2 be alarmed synonyms
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ตระหนก refers to intense fear or alarm and has a somewhat more formal or written tone. ตื่น, especially in compounds, can cover a broader surge of emotion, including surprise and excitement.