แย่ง
compete for
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 compete for、scramble for、race to do、snatch away
Describes competing with others for the same thing or taking something away from someone, often forcefully or by acting first.
compete for、scramble for、race to do、snatch away
Describes people competing or rushing to get or do the same thing before the others.
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เด็ก ๆ แย่งของเล่นกัน dèk dèk yɛ̂ɛŋ khɔ̌ɔŋ lên kan The children are fighting over a toy. เด็ก ๆ แย่งของเล่นกัน details
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ทุกคนแย่งกันตอบ thúk khon yɛ̂ɛŋ kan tɔ̀ɔp Everyone rushes to answer first. ทุกคนแย่งกันตอบ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central idea of แย่ง is taking something for yourself when another person also wants it or already has it. It is a common everyday verb. แย่ง + object + กัน describes people fighting over the object. For example, แย่งของเล่นกัน means “fight over a toy.” แย่งกัน + verb means that several people race or compete to perform the action. Examples include แย่งกันซื้อ, “rush to buy,” and แย่งกันพูด, “all try to speak first.” To identify the person or place something is taken from, use แย่ง + object + จาก + source. The object can also be abstract, such as attention, an opportunity, affection, or a romantic partner.
Usage
Common situations include children fighting over toys or food, crowds scrambling for seats or turns, and customers competing for popular products. It is also used when someone takes another person's chance to speak, attention, credit, or romantic partner.
Caution
The word often suggests pushiness, interference, or disregard for another person's turn or claim. It is not a general equivalent of “take away”; for example, it is not normally used for “take a life,” where no rivalry or struggle for possession is involved.
Differences from similar words
1 compete for synonyms
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ชิง can mean acting first or winning something through competition and may sound more formal or literary. แย่ง is especially common in everyday situations where people scramble for the same object, place, or turn.