คว้า
grab
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 grab、seize
- 2 seize (an opportunity)、win (a victory, title, or award)
This word conveys reaching out and quickly taking hold of something. It is also used figuratively for securing an opportunity or winning a victory, title, or award.
grab、seize
To reach out and take hold of someone or something quickly, often with a sudden or forceful movement.
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เขาคว้าแขนฉันไว้ khǎw khwáa khɛ̌ɛn chǎn wáy He quickly grabbed my arm. เขาคว้าแขนฉันไว้ details
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เธอคว้ากระเป๋าแล้ววิ่งออกไป thəə khwáa krapǎw lɛ́ɛw wîŋ ɔ̀ɔk pay She grabbed her bag and ran out. เธอคว้ากระเป๋าแล้ววิ่งออกไป details
seize (an opportunity)、win (a victory, title, or award)
To successfully secure an opportunity or obtain a valued result such as a victory, championship, medal, or award.
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คว้าโอกาสนี้ไว้ khwáa ookàat níi wáy Seize this opportunity. คว้าโอกาสนี้ไว้ details
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ทีมไทยคว้าแชมป์ได้สำเร็จ thiim thay khwáa chɛ́ɛm dâay sǎmrèt The Thai team successfully won the championship. ทีมไทยคว้าแชมป์ได้สำเร็จ details
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ภาพยนตร์เรื่องนี้คว้ารางวัลหลายรางวัล phâappháyon rʉ̂aŋ níi khwáa raaŋwan lǎay raaŋwan This film won several awards. ภาพยนตร์เรื่องนี้คว้ารางวัลหลายรางวัล details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image is that of reaching toward a target, taking hold of it quickly, and making it yours. In its physical sense, คว้า often suggests a sudden or energetic action, as in คว้าแขน “grab someone’s arm” or คว้ากระเป๋า “snatch up a bag.” Adding ไว้ in the pattern คว้า…ไว้ emphasizes securing the target or continuing to hold on to it. The same image extends naturally to abstract goals: คว้าโอกาส means “seize an opportunity,” while คว้าชัยชนะ, คว้าแชมป์, and คว้ารางวัล refer to winning a victory, championship, or award. These combinations are especially common in sports and entertainment reporting.
Usage
In everyday situations, it is used for suddenly catching a falling object, grabbing someone’s hand or arm, or quickly picking up an item before moving away. Figuratively, it appears when someone takes advantage of a valuable opportunity, such as a job or a chance to study abroad. It is also frequent in news reports about championships, medals, victories, and awards.
Caution
Use ถือ for simply holding or carrying something. คว้า describes the active movement of reaching for and quickly grabbing a target, so it is not normally used for the static state of holding an object. คว้าน้ำเหลว is an idiom rather than a literal reference to grabbing liquid. It means failing to obtain what one was looking for or coming away empty-handed.
Differences from similar words
1 grab synonyms
2 seize (an opportunity) synonyms
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ชนะ focuses on defeating an opponent or winning a contest. คว้า focuses on obtaining the resulting victory, title, or medal and normally takes that achievement as its object.