งอก
grow out
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 grow out、grow、sprout
- 2 crop up、increase unexpectedly、be added unexpectedly
งอก describes something naturally emerging or growing out from a base or inside source. It is used for sprouts, teeth, hair, nails, and also informally for extra work, costs, or problems that suddenly appear.
grow out、grow、sprout
This sense means that something grows or emerges naturally, such as a plant sprout, tooth, hair, nail, or tail.
-
เมล็ดเริ่มงอก málét rə̂əm ŋɔ̂ɔk The seeds have started to sprout. เมล็ดเริ่มงอก details
-
ฟันลูกเริ่มงอกแล้ว fan lûuk rə̂əm ŋɔ̂ɔk lɛ́ɛw The child’s teeth have started to come in. ฟันลูกเริ่มงอกแล้ว details
crop up、increase unexpectedly、be added unexpectedly
This informal sense means that extra work, costs, or problems unexpectedly appear, often with a mildly annoyed or burdened feeling.
-
งานงอก ŋaan ŋɔ̂ɔk Extra work cropped up. งานงอก details
-
ปัญหางอกขึ้นมาอีก panhǎa ŋɔ̂ɔk khʉ̂n maa ìik Another problem has come up. ปัญหางอกขึ้นมาอีก details
Learning notes
Explanation
งอก is basically an intransitive verb: it describes something growing or emerging by itself, rather than someone making it grow. เมล็ดงอก means “the seeds sprout,” and ฟันงอก means “teeth come in.” With ใหม่ or ขึ้นมาใหม่, it can mean “grow back,” as with hair, nails, or a tail. In everyday speech, งานงอก is a very common expression for unexpected extra work or hassle appearing.
Usage
Use this word when talking about seeds sprouting, plants growing, children’s teeth coming in, or hair and nails growing back. In casual conversation, it is also common for unexpected extra work, problems, or costs, as in งานงอก, ปัญหางอก, or ค่าใช้จ่ายงอก.
Caution
Do not use งอก for deliberately increasing something. เพิ่ม or เพิ่มขึ้น is the normal choice for that. งอก implies natural emergence or an unexpected extra addition, so it does not fit every case of increase.
Differences from similar words
1 grow out synonyms
-
ขึ้น can also mean to grow or come up, but it is a very broad verb. งอก more clearly suggests something naturally emerging from a root, base, or inside source.
2 crop up synonyms
-
เกิดขึ้น simply means that something happens or occurs. งอก adds the informal nuance that it has appeared as an extra, often unwanted, addition.
-
เพิ่มขึ้น is a neutral word for an amount or degree increasing. งอก suggests that something extra or unwanted has appeared, especially work, problems, or costs.