gaunt and pale
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- 1 gaunt and pale、thin and sickly-looking
Describes someone who looks both thin and pale in an unhealthy way, often because of illness, exhaustion, or stress.
gaunt and pale、thin and sickly-looking
Describes an unhealthy appearance combining a gaunt or wasted build with a pale complexion.
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เขาดูซูบซีดลงมาก khǎw duu sûup sîit loŋ mâak He looks much thinner and paler than before. เขาดูซูบซีดลงมาก details
Learning notes
Explanation
This word combines ซูบ, meaning to become gaunt or lose flesh, with ซีด, meaning pale or lacking color. It does not merely describe a naturally slim person. It suggests an unhealthy appearance caused by factors such as illness, exhaustion, emotional strain, lack of sleep, or poor nutrition. It can describe a person as a whole or their face and general appearance. ดูซูบซีด, “look gaunt and pale,” is especially common. Adding ลง, as in ซูบซีดลง, indicates that the person has become thinner and paler than before.
Usage
It is commonly used for someone who looks unwell after an illness or because of prolonged fatigue, sleep deprivation, stress, or inadequate food. It can describe a noticeable change in someone’s appearance or be used when showing concern for a person you know well.
Caution
This is not a compliment for a healthy, slim figure. Because it implies illness or physical decline, saying it directly to someone you do not know well may sound intrusive or unkind.
Differences from similar words
1 gaunt and pale synonyms
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ซีด mainly means pale and does not necessarily imply weight loss. ซูบซีด combines paleness with a gaunt or wasted appearance.
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ซูบโทรม more strongly suggests looking haggard, exhausted, and physically run-down. ซูบซีด focuses on the combination of gauntness and pallor.
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ผอม simply describes someone as thin and can refer to a healthy body type. ซูบซีด additionally suggests pallor, physical decline, and an unhealthy appearance.