เสือ
tiger
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 tiger
- 2 formidable figure、notorious outlaw
เสือ usually means a tiger. Its associations with strength and danger also extend to formidable people and notorious outlaws.
tiger
The usual word for a tiger, also used as part of the names of several other wild cats.
formidable figure、notorious outlaw
A figurative label for a formidable figure or a feared outlaw, drawing on the tiger's power and ferocity.
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เขาเป็นเสือเก่า khǎw pen sʉ̌a kàw He was once a formidable figure. เขาเป็นเสือเก่า details
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เสือตัวใหม่ทางเศรษฐกิจ sʉ̌a tua mày thaaŋ sèetthakìt a new economic tiger เสือตัวใหม่ทางเศรษฐกิจ details
Learning notes
Explanation
On its own, เสือ normally means “tiger.” เสือโคร่ง names the animal more specifically. Other wild cats have names containing เสือ, such as เสือดาว, “leopard,” so the full name matters. The animal classifier is ตัว: เสือสองตัว means “two tigers,” and เสือตัวนั้น means “that tiger.” Figurative uses emphasize strength, ability, or ferocity. In stories and films about bandits, เสือ can appear before a person's name as an outlaw's epithet. Economic writing also uses the tiger image for rapidly developing economies, as in เสือตัวใหม่ทางเศรษฐกิจ, “a new economic tiger.”
Usage
Common in conversations about zoos, wildlife, and conservation. Figurative uses occur in stories and films about outlaws, descriptions of formidable people, and discussions of rising economies.
Caution
ลูกเสือ means “tiger cub” in an animal context, but “Boy Scout” when discussing school activities or uniforms. Calling someone เสือ is not automatically a compliment about courage. เสือผู้หญิง means “womanizer” and can sound critical or teasing.
Differences from similar words
2 formidable figure synonyms
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โจร is an ordinary word for a thief, robber, or bandit. เสือ is a more evocative label that presents an outlaw as feared or notorious.