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Thai

สะท้อน

Pronunciation

sathɔ́ɔn

สะท้อน

sathɔ́ɔn

reflect

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  1. 1 reflect、rebound、bounce back
  2. 2 echo、reverberate
  3. 3 reflect、reveal、indicate

This word describes light, sound, or another force being sent back from a surface. It also commonly describes facts, words, or works of art revealing an underlying reality, attitude, or feeling.

1

reflect、rebound、bounce back

Verb⭐️3 Common

Describes light, heat, an image, or a physical object being sent back after striking a surface.

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2

echo、reverberate

Verb⭐️3 Common

Describes a sound returning from a surface or carrying through a space so that it is heard again.

3

reflect、reveal、indicate

Verb⭐️3 Common

Describes facts, words, behavior, or creative works revealing an underlying reality, idea, feeling, or problem.

Show more (1)

Learning notes

Explanation

The central image is of something reaching a surface and then being sent back in a different direction. In its physical uses, it describes reflected light, heat, or images, as well as echoes. This develops into a common figurative meaning: something observable reveals what lies behind it. A work of art can reflect society, statistics can reveal a problem, and a person's words can reflect their thinking. This use is common in conversation, journalism, commentary, presentations, and business writing. The pattern สะท้อนให้เห็นว่า followed by a clause means “clearly show that…,” while สะท้อนให้เห็นถึง followed by a noun means “reveal” or “highlight” that issue.

Usage

It is used for light or images reflected by mirrors, glass, or water, and for sounds echoing in rooms, caves, or mountains. It is also frequent when discussing how films or literature portray society, what survey results or statistics reveal, and what a person's words or behavior show about their thoughts or feelings.

Caution

Do not limit this word to physical reflection; its figurative sense of revealing or mirroring reality is extremely common. However, it does not normally mean projecting a movie onto a screen—that is ฉาย—or displaying information on a screen, for which แสดง is commonly used. It also does not necessarily mean deliberately incorporating someone's opinion into a plan; a phrase such as นำความคิดเห็นมาปรับใช้ is clearer for that meaning.

Differences from similar words

1 reflect synonyms

  • กระเด้ง is an everyday word for something springing or bouncing, especially because of elasticity. สะท้อน is broader and can describe light or heat being reflected by a surface.

  • ตีกลับ emphasizes something physically striking a surface and bouncing back. สะท้อน has a wider range and is especially common for the reflection of light, heat, and images.

2 echo synonyms

3 reflect synonyms

  • บ่งบอก means that a sign or characteristic indicates something. สะท้อน carries the image of reflection and is especially common when art, words, or statistics mirror an underlying reality.

  • แสดง broadly means to show, display, or express something. สะท้อน suggests that an observable fact or expression reveals an underlying condition, idea, or feeling.

Component words

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