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Thai

นำ

Pronunciation

nam

นำ

nam

lead

Native recording

Analyzing pitch…

  1. 1 lead、guide、direct
  2. 2 bring、take、carry、convey
  3. 3 lead、be ahead
  4. 4 apply、put to use、adopt
  5. 5 lead to、bring about、result in

This word centers on leading or moving someone or something in a particular direction. It can describe guiding people, carrying things, being ahead, putting something to practical use, or producing a result.

1

lead、guide、direct

Verb⭐️4 Often used

To go ahead of people and show the way, or to direct a group or activity.

2

bring、take、carry、convey

Verb⭐️4 Often used

To move or convey a person or thing somewhere, often corresponding to bring, take, or carry depending on the direction.

3

lead、be ahead

Verb⭐️3 Common

To be ahead of others in a race, game, ranking, or other comparison.

4

apply、put to use、adopt

Verb⭐️3 Common

To take knowledge, a method, technology, or another resource and put it into practical use, usually in the patterns นำไปใช้ or นำมาใช้.

5

lead to、bring about、result in

Verb⭐️3 Common

To cause or contribute to a particular result, chiefly in the pattern นำไปสู่ and, in more formal writing, นำมาซึ่ง.

Learning notes

Explanation

The core image of นำ is moving someone or something forward in a particular direction. With people, it can mean guide or lead; with objects, it can mean bring, take, or convey; in a competition, it means be ahead. The same image extends to putting knowledge into use in นำไปใช้ and to a cause leading to a result in นำไปสู่. Directional words such as มา, ไป, เข้า, and ออก often determine the exact meaning.

Usage

It is common when giving directions, leading teams, stating what may be brought into a place, and reporting scores or rankings. It also appears frequently in education and business when discussing the application of knowledge or adoption of technology, and in news or explanatory writing when connecting a cause with a result.

Caution

For simply taking a person somewhere in everyday conversation, พา is often more natural; for casually taking an object, เอาไป is common. นำ is especially useful when leadership or direction is involved and in polished instructions, notices, and explanations. To express “lead to,” the usual pattern is นำไปสู่ followed by the result.

Differences from similar words

1 lead synonyms

2 bring synonyms

  • เอา is a broad, conversational verb meaning take or get. นำ more clearly presents something as being conveyed in a direction and is common in instructions, notices, and formal contexts.

3 lead synonyms

  • ชนะ means to win or defeat someone. นำ describes being ahead at a particular point, without implying that the final result is already decided.

4 apply synonyms

5 lead to synonyms

Component words

Other words containing นำ

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