กระทำ

Explanation

กระทำ is more formal and objective than the everyday verb ทำ. It commonly appears in legal writing, news reports, official documents, and serious discussions of conduct. กระทำความผิด is a frequent expression meaning “commit an offense.” The negative meaning comes from ความผิด (“offense” or “wrongdoing”); กระทำ itself is not inherently negative. Adding การ forms the noun การกระทำ, meaning “an act” or “action.” ผู้กระทำ means the person who performs an act, while ผู้กระทำผิด refers to an offender or perpetrator. With ต่อ or กับ followed by a person, กระทำ describes directing an action toward that person. Depending on context, this construction may suggest mistreatment or harm.

Usage

It is common when discussing offenses in legal or news contexts, giving formal instructions, or describing conduct objectively. It can occur in conversation, but ทำ is normally preferred for ordinary everyday activities.

Caution

Do not use กระทำ as a general replacement for every instance of “do.” Use ทำการบ้าน for “do homework” and ทำอาหาร for “cook,” not กระทำการบ้าน or กระทำอาหาร. Also, กระทำกับ followed by a person can sound serious or suggest harmful treatment, so it should not automatically replace ordinary expressions describing what someone does to or for another person.

1 perform synonyms

• ทำ

  tham do

  ทำ is the ordinary, versatile verb for “do” or “make.” กระทำ focuses more specifically on performing an action and has a more formal, official tone.

• ปฏิบัติ

  patìbàt carry out

  ปฏิบัติ often means to follow or implement a duty, rule, or instruction, and can also describe how someone is treated. กระทำ more broadly refers to performing an act.