ทรยศ
betray
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 betray、be disloyal to、turn against
- 2 treacherous、traitorous、disloyal
This word means to betray someone’s trust, loyalty, or commitment in a serious way. It carries a strong negative tone and is used for real betrayal, not a small mistake.
betray、be disloyal to、turn against
To act against someone or something you were expected to be loyal to, especially by breaking trust or taking the other side.
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เขาทรยศเพื่อน khǎw thɔɔrayót phʉ̂an He betrayed his friend. เขาทรยศเพื่อน details
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ทรยศต่อประเทศ thɔɔrayót tɔ̀ɔ prathêet betray one’s country ทรยศต่อประเทศ details
treacherous、traitorous、disloyal
Describes a person, act, or attitude as treacherous or traitorous.
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คนทรยศ khon thɔɔrayót a traitor คนทรยศ details
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การกระทำที่ทรยศ kaan kratham thîi thɔɔrayót a treacherous act การกระทำที่ทรยศ details
Learning notes
Explanation
ทรยศ is used when someone acts against a person, group, or country they were expected to be loyal to. It can take a direct object, as in ทรยศเพื่อน “betray a friend,” and a more formal pattern is ทรยศต่อ + target, as in ทรยศต่อประเทศ “betray one’s country.” The important noun forms are การทรยศ “betrayal” and คนทรยศ “traitor.” The word is emotionally and morally strong.
Usage
It is common in contexts involving serious broken trust: friends, partners, family, teams, organizations, politics, history, or the military. You often see it in dramas, news, historical discussion, and emotionally charged conversations.
Caution
Do not use it for minor mistakes or small disappointments; it can sound too severe. For “break a promise,” ผิดสัญญา is more specific; for “deceive,” use หลอก; for romantic cheating, นอกใจ is usually more precise.
Differences from similar words
1 betray synonyms
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นอกใจ specifically means to be unfaithful to a romantic partner. ทรยศ can be used in romance too, but it covers betrayal of friends, allies, organizations, or countries more broadly.