ตำ
pound (with a pestle)
Native recording
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- 1 pound (with a pestle)、crush by pounding
- 2 prick、pierce (with a sharp object)
This verb describes repeatedly pounding something with a pestle-like tool, especially in cooking, or a sharp object such as a thorn or needle pricking or piercing something.
pound (with a pestle)、crush by pounding
Describes repeatedly striking ingredients with a pestle or similar tool to crush and mix them.
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ตำพริก tam phrík pound chilies ตำพริก details
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ตำกระเทียมให้ละเอียด tam krathiam hây láìat pound the garlic finely ตำกระเทียมให้ละเอียด details
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แม่กำลังตำส้มตำ mɛ̂ɛ kamlaŋ tam sôm tam Mom is making som tam. แม่กำลังตำส้มตำ details
prick、pierce (with a sharp object)
Describes a small, sharp object such as a thorn, needle, or splinter pricking or piercing the body.
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หนามตำเท้า nǎam tam tháaw A thorn pricks the foot. หนามตำเท้า details
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เข็มตำมือ khěm tam mʉʉ A needle pricks the hand. เข็มตำมือ details
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กลัวเสี้ยนตำเท้า klua sîan tam tháaw be afraid of getting a splinter in one's foot กลัวเสี้ยนตำเท้า details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image of ตำ is a pointed or pestle-like object being driven into something. In cooking, it refers to repeatedly pounding ingredients in a ครก (mortar) with a สาก (pestle), crushing and mixing them at the same time. Common combinations include ตำพริก “pound chilies” and ตำเครื่องแกง “pound curry-paste ingredients.” The word also appears in the dish name ส้มตำ. Its other core use describes a small sharp object entering or pricking something, as in หนามตำเท้า, “a thorn pricks the foot.” A common pattern is “sharp object + ตำ + affected body part.”
Usage
It is common in home kitchens, restaurants, and street-food stalls when chilies, garlic, spices, or salad ingredients are pounded in a mortar. It is especially closely associated with making som tam. It is also used for everyday minor injuries, such as stepping on a thorn or splinter or being pricked by a needle.
Caution
In cooking, ตำ is different from หั่น “slice,” สับ “chop,” and the more general บด “grind or crush.” Do not confuse ตำ with ต่ำ, meaning “low.” For a forceful, intentional stabbing action with a knife or similar weapon, แทง is normally more appropriate.
Differences from similar words
1 pound (with a pestle) synonyms
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บด broadly means to grind or crush something, often with a tool or machine. ตำ specifically suggests repeated downward pounding, typically with a pestle.
2 prick synonyms
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ทิ่ม broadly describes pushing or jabbing a pointed object into something and can be intentional. ตำ is especially common when a thorn, needle, or splinter pricks the body.
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แทง often refers to a forceful or intentional stabbing action, as with a knife. ตำ is more natural for being pricked by a small sharp object such as a thorn or needle.