ชุ่ม
moist
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 moist、soaked with (a liquid)、drenched
It describes something that has absorbed enough liquid to be thoroughly moist. In fixed expressions, it can also refer to soothing the throat or bringing emotional warmth and refreshment.
moist、soaked with (a liquid)、drenched
Describes cloth, soil, skin, and similar things as holding a substantial amount of water, sweat, or another liquid.
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ผ้าชุ่มน้ำ phâa chûm náam a cloth soaked with water ผ้าชุ่มน้ำ details
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รดน้ำให้ดินชุ่ม rótnáam hây din chûm Water the soil until it is thoroughly moist. รดน้ำให้ดินชุ่ม details
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เสื้อชุ่มเหงื่อ sʉ̂a chûm ŋʉ̀a a shirt soaked with sweat เสื้อชุ่มเหงื่อ details
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ดื่มน้ำให้ชุ่มคอ dʉ̀ʉm náam hây chûm khɔɔ Drink some water to moisten your throat. ดื่มน้ำให้ชุ่มคอ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image of ชุ่ม is not merely liquid on a surface, but liquid absorbed into something in a substantial amount. It commonly describes cloth, soil, skin, and clothing. A frequent pattern is “noun + ชุ่ม + liquid”: ผ้าชุ่มน้ำ is cloth soaked with water, while เสื้อชุ่มเหงื่อ is a shirt soaked with sweat. It can also serve as the predicate of a clause, as in ให้ดินชุ่ม, “make sure the soil is thoroughly moist.” Thai dictionaries may classify this kind of state word as a verb, but learners can usefully understand ชุ่ม as describing a moist or soaked condition. For the active meaning “to moisten something,” ทำให้ชุ่ม or ชุบ is usually clearer.
Usage
It is common when describing a wet cloth or cotton pad, well-watered soil, or clothing soaked with sweat or rain. ชุ่มคอ appears when drinks or foods soothe the throat, while ชุ่มใจ is used for welcome news or kind words that warm the heart.
Caution
Do not normally use ชุ่ม by itself as a general word for “happy”; the usual expression is ชุ่มใจ. For humid or damp air, ชื้น or ชุ่มชื้น is more natural.
Differences from similar words
1 moist synonyms
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ชื้น usually means slightly damp and is also used for humid air. ชุ่ม generally suggests more moisture or liquid that has been absorbed.
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เปียก is the general word for “wet,” regardless of how the liquid got there. ชุ่ม emphasizes that liquid has soaked in or that something holds plenty of moisture.
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เปียกโชก clearly means soaking wet or drenched, often to the point of dripping. ชุ่ม focuses on being thoroughly infused with moisture and need not imply dripping.