ห้าม
forbid
Native recording
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- 1 forbid、prohibit、ban
- 2 stop、restrain、hold back
This word expresses keeping an action or process from continuing. It commonly means to forbid something, but it can also mean to stop or restrain an action, bleeding, or an emotion.
forbid、prohibit、ban
To state by a rule or command that an action is not allowed, or to prevent someone from doing it.
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ห้ามสูบบุหรี่ hâam sùup bùrìi No smoking. ห้ามสูบบุหรี่ details
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ห้ามเข้า hâam khâw No entry. ห้ามเข้า details
stop、restrain、hold back
To stop an action or process already in progress, or to hold back a physical or emotional response.
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ห้ามเลือด hâam lʉ̂at stop the bleeding ห้ามเลือด details
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ไม่มีใครห้ามเขาได้ mây mii khray hâam khǎw dâay No one can stop him. ไม่มีใครห้ามเขาได้ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image of ห้าม is preventing an action or process from going any further. Its most common meaning is “to forbid.” The pattern ห้าม + verb means that an action is prohibited, as in ห้ามเข้า “No entry” and ห้ามสูบบุหรี่ “No smoking.” To name the person being prohibited, Thai commonly uses ห้าม + person + verb or ห้ามไม่ให้ + person + verb. It can also mean stopping something already happening. Common combinations include ห้ามเลือด “stop the bleeding” and ห้ามใจ “restrain oneself or one’s feelings.” With people, it can describe intervening to stop their actions or break up a fight.
Usage
It is extremely common on road signs and notices in buildings and public facilities. It is also used at home or school when someone forbids another person from doing something. Other everyday contexts include stopping someone, breaking up a fight, stopping bleeding, and restraining an emotion or urge.
Caution
In the construction ห้ามไม่ให้, ไม่ does not create an affirmative meaning through double negation. The complete pattern means to prevent or forbid someone from doing something. When simply telling the person in front of you “Don’t do that,” อย่า + verb may sound more natural than ห้าม.
Differences from similar words
1 forbid synonyms
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งด means to refrain from an activity or temporarily suspend something, and it can sound like a polite request in notices. ห้าม states more directly that an action is not allowed.
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อย่า is placed before a verb to tell someone directly not to do something. ห้าม is a verb meaning “forbid” and is widely used in rules, signs, and statements about preventing someone from acting.
2 stop synonyms
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ระงับ is a somewhat formal word for suspending or suppressing a process, measure, or emotion. ห้าม is more common in everyday speech and is natural when physically or verbally stopping someone.
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หยุด is the general verb for stopping or coming to a stop. ห้าม more specifically suggests restraining a person or holding back something such as bleeding or emotion.