จิ้ม
poke
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 poke、lightly pierce
- 2 dip (food into a sauce)
- 3 tap (a screen)、pick (an option)
This word describes touching a specific spot with a fingertip or the tip of something. It is commonly used for poking, dipping food into a sauce, and tapping a screen.
poke、lightly pierce
To lightly poke or pierce a particular spot with a finger or the tip of an object.
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อย่าจิ้มตาฉัน yàa cîm taa chǎn Don't poke me in the eye. อย่าจิ้มตาฉัน details
dip (food into a sauce)
To briefly put part of a piece of food into a sauce or dip before eating it.
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เอาหมูจิ้มน้ำจิ้ม aw mǔu cîm náam cîm Dip the pork into the sauce. เอาหมูจิ้มน้ำจิ้ม details
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ผักสดจิ้มน้ำพริก phàk sòt cîm náam phrík Dip fresh vegetables into the chili dip. ผักสดจิ้มน้ำพริก details
tap (a screen)、pick (an option)
To casually tap a spot on a screen or pick an option by pointing to or tapping it.
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จิ้มตรงนี้เลย cîm troŋ níi ləəy Tap right here. จิ้มตรงนี้เลย details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image of จิ้ม is touching a precise spot with a fingertip or the tip of a thin object. Its basic use covers poking someone with a finger or lightly piercing something with a stick or skewer. From this image, it also came to mean briefly dipping food into a sauce and casually tapping a spot on a touchscreen. An especially useful related word is น้ำจิ้ม, meaning “dipping sauce.” น้ำจิ้มไก่ is a sweet chili-style sauce commonly served with chicken, while น้ำจิ้มซีฟู้ด is a spicy, sour sauce served with seafood.
Usage
It is commonly used when poking a person or object, testing food with a skewer, or dipping food into a sauce at the table. In everyday conversation, it is also used when telling someone where to tap on a phone or touchscreen, or when casually asking them to pick one option.
Caution
จิ้ม is not a general-purpose equivalent of “put on” or “soak.” Use it for a brief dip into a sauce; use แช่ when something is left soaking and ทา when a substance is spread onto a surface. For forceful stabbing with a knife or similar object, แทง is normally more appropriate.
Differences from similar words
1 poke synonyms
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ทิ่ม emphasizes thrusting or sticking a pointed object into something. จิ้ม can describe a much lighter poke and does not necessarily imply deep penetration.
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แทง commonly refers to forceful stabbing, often with a weapon or another dangerous object. จิ้ม usually describes a lighter, more controlled poke at one spot.
2 dip (food into a sauce) synonyms
3 tap (a screen) synonyms
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กด is the general verb for pressing a button or applying downward pressure. จิ้ม focuses on touching a precise spot with the fingertip, especially on a touchscreen.
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เลือก is the neutral, general verb for choosing after considering options. จิ้ม is a casual way to say that someone picks one, as if pointing at or tapping the choice.
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แตะ is a neutral verb for lightly touching a surface and is also standard for tapping a screen. จิ้ม is more conversational and vividly suggests poking a particular spot with a fingertip.