ฟ้อง
tell on someone
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 tell on someone、complain to someone in authority
- 2 sue、bring legal proceedings against、prosecute
This word is used when wrongdoing, a dispute, or a hidden fact is brought to light. It can mean telling on someone, taking legal action, or showing what is really true.
tell on someone、complain to someone in authority
To tell a parent, teacher, supervisor, or another person in authority about someone's wrongdoing or mistreatment.
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อย่าฟ้องแม่นะ yàa fɔ́ɔŋ mɛ̂ɛ ná Don't tell Mom on me. อย่าฟ้องแม่นะ details
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จะฟ้อง! cà fɔ́ɔŋ I'm telling! จะฟ้อง! details
sue、bring legal proceedings against、prosecute
To bring a case before a court, whether by suing someone in a civil matter or bringing criminal charges.
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บริษัทฟ้องลูกค้า bɔɔrisàt fɔ́ɔŋ lûuk kháa The company sued the customer. บริษัทฟ้องลูกค้า details
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เขาถูกฟ้อง khǎw thùuk fɔ́ɔŋ He was sued. เขาถูกฟ้อง details
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ฟ้องเรียกค่าเสียหาย fɔ́ɔŋ rîak khâa sǐa hǎay Sue for damages. ฟ้องเรียกค่าเสียหาย details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central idea is bringing a problem or truth into the open. In family or school settings, it commonly means telling on someone. In court-related contexts, it means suing or prosecuting. With evidence, an expression, data, or test results as the subject, it means indicating or revealing the truth. The role of the following person depends on context: ฟ้องแม่ means telling Mom, while ฟ้องบริษัท in a legal context normally means suing the company.
Usage
It is common when children tell a parent or teacher about someone else's behavior, when a person raises a grievance with a supervisor, and in news or discussions about lawsuits, prosecution, contracts, and damages. It is also used figuratively when facial expressions, symptoms, evidence, test results, or figures reveal the truth.
Caution
Use แจ้งความ for reporting an incident or crime to the police; ฟ้อง generally refers to taking the matter to court or complaining to someone in authority. For simply telling someone something, use บอก, and for a neutral report, use รายงาน. In everyday speech, ฟ้อง can sound like tattling, so it may be inappropriate for a neutral report.
Differences from similar words
1 tell on someone synonyms
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บอก neutrally means to tell or inform. ฟ้อง specifically involves reporting wrongdoing or mistreatment to someone who can intervene.
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รายงาน means to report information in a neutral or formal way. ฟ้อง may sound more personal or accusatory because it concerns wrongdoing or a grievance.
2 sue synonyms
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ดำเนินคดี refers broadly to pursuing or conducting legal proceedings. ฟ้อง focuses on bringing a claim or charge before a court.