เจ๊ง

Explanation

เจ๊ง is a colloquial word built around the idea that something has become so badly ruined that it cannot continue or function. Its English translation changes with the subject: a business goes under, a plan fails, and a machine breaks down. It is generally regarded as a loanword of Teochew Chinese origin, but it is now well established in everyday Thai. It can directly follow its subject, as in บริษัทเจ๊ง “the company goes under” .

Usage

Common in conversation and social media when discussing a business that has gone under, a plan that has collapsed, or a vehicle or device that has stopped working. It expresses a serious negative outcome in a casual, direct way.

Caution

Because it is strongly colloquial, เจ๊ง is unsuitable for formal documents or carefully worded explanations. Using it about someone else’s business or project can also sound insensitive or mocking. In neutral contexts, use more specific words such as ล้มละลาย for bankruptcy, ล้มเหลว for failure, or เสีย for a malfunction.

1 go out of business synonyms

• ล้มละลาย

  ล้มละลาย is a formal and legally precise term for bankruptcy. เจ๊ง is the casual everyday choice for a business going under.

• เลิกกิจการ

  เลิกกิจการ means to close or discontinue a business, regardless of the reason. เจ๊ง suggests that the business could not continue, usually because of financial trouble.

2 break down synonyms

• ชำรุด

  chamrút damaged

  ชำรุด is a more formal word used to describe damaged or defective equipment and property. เจ๊ง is conversational and bluntly says that something no longer works.

• เสีย

  sǐa break down

  เสีย is the standard neutral word for something being broken and can cover minor faults. เจ๊ง is more casual and tends to suggest that it has stopped working altogether.