แตก
break
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 break、crack、split、burst、shatter
- 2 scatter、disperse、split up、be divided、be disunited
- 3 sprout、put out leaves、branch out、develop into branches
- 4 be exposed、come out、be found out
- 5 sound distorted、voice breaks、voice changes [puberty]
- 6 be proficient、be well-versed、understand thoroughly
แตก centers on something losing its original whole form: breaking, cracking, bursting, splitting apart, or opening out. From that core idea, it also extends to secrets coming out, groups scattering, and plants putting out shoots or leaves.
break、crack、split、burst、shatter
Used when something breaks, cracks, splits, bursts, or otherwise stops holding its original shape.
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แก้วแตก kɛ̂ɛw tɛ̀ɛk The glass breaks. แก้วแตก details
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ยางแตก yaaŋ tɛ̀ɛk The tire bursts. ยางแตก details
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ริมฝีปากแตก rim fǐi pàak tɛ̀ɛk My lips are cracked. ริมฝีปากแตก details
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ท่อแตก thɔ̂ɔ tɛ̀ɛk The pipe bursts. ท่อแตก details
scatter、disperse、split up、be divided、be disunited
Used when people, groups, or unified things scatter, separate, or lose unity.
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ฝูงชนแตก fǔuŋ chon tɛ̀ɛk The crowd disperses. ฝูงชนแตก details
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แตกคอกัน tɛ̀ɛk khɔɔ kan They fall out with each other. แตกคอกัน details
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ครอบครัวแตกแยก khrɔ̂ɔpkhrua tɛ̀ɛk yɛ̂ɛk The family breaks apart. ครอบครัวแตกแยก details
sprout、put out leaves、branch out、develop into branches
Used for plants putting out shoots, leaves, or branches, and by extension for topics or fields branching out.
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ต้นกล้วยแตกหน่อ tôn klûay tɛ̀ɛk nɔ̀ɔ The banana plant puts out shoots. ต้นกล้วยแตกหน่อ details
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ต้นไม้แตกใบใหม่ tôn máay tɛ̀ɛk bay mày The tree puts out new leaves. ต้นไม้แตกใบใหม่ details
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เรื่องนี้แตกแขนงไปหลายประเด็น rʉ̂aŋ níi tɛ̀ɛkkhanɛ̌ɛŋ pay lǎay praden This topic branches out into several issues. เรื่องนี้แตกแขนงไปหลายประเด็น details
be exposed、come out、be found out
Used when a secret, hidden matter, or problem comes out and becomes known.
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ความลับแตก khwaam láp tɛ̀ɛk The secret gets out. ความลับแตก details
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เรื่องแตกแล้ว rʉ̂aŋ tɛ̀ɛk lɛ́ɛw It has already come out. เรื่องแตกแล้ว details
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โป๊ะแตก pó tɛ̀ɛk The truth slips out. โป๊ะแตก details
sound distorted、voice breaks、voice changes [puberty]
Used when a sound becomes distorted or a voice breaks, including a boy’s voice changing during puberty.
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เสียงลำโพงแตก sǐaŋ lamphooŋ tɛ̀ɛk The speaker sound is distorted. เสียงลำโพงแตก details
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เด็กผู้ชายเริ่มเสียงแตก dèk phûu chaay rə̂əm sǐaŋ tɛ̀ɛk The boy’s voice starts to change. เด็กผู้ชายเริ่มเสียงแตก details
be proficient、be well-versed、understand thoroughly
Used for having a deep, fluent command of something. In modern Thai it is mainly used in the compound แตกฉาน.
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เขาแตกฉานภาษาไทย khǎw tɛ̀ɛkchǎan phaasǎa thay He is highly proficient in Thai. เขาแตกฉานภาษาไทย details
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อ่านจนแตกฉาน àan con tɛ̀ɛkchǎan Read until one understands it thoroughly. อ่านจนแตกฉาน details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image of แตก is a whole thing opening, cracking, bursting, or losing its unity. It is commonly intransitive: แก้วแตก means “the glass breaks,” and ยางแตก means “the tire bursts.” The same image extends naturally to abstract uses such as ความลับแตก “a secret gets out,” ฝูงชนแตก “a crowd disperses,” and แตกคอ “to fall out with someone.” With plants, it can be positive, as in แตกหน่อ or แตกใบ, where new shoots or leaves emerge.
Usage
In everyday speech, it is used for broken dishes or glass, burst tires, cracked lips, and cracked walls. In news or explanations, it appears with crowds dispersing, groups or families splitting, and secrets or problems being exposed. Plant growth, sound distortion, voice change, and deep proficiency are best learned through common fixed expressions.
Caution
To say “break something,” Thai normally uses ทำ...แตก, as in ฉันทำแก้วแตก “I broke the glass.” ฉันแตกแก้ว is not the normal pattern. Also, some slang expressions with แตก can be sexual or vulgar, so unfamiliar colloquial uses need context.
Differences from similar words
1 break synonyms
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พัง means something is broken or no longer works, especially machines, structures, or systems. แตก is more about cracking, shattering, bursting, or splitting.
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หัก is used for something snapping or breaking by bending, such as a stick, bone, or branch. แตก is used for cracking, shattering, splitting, or bursting.
2 scatter synonyms
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กระจาย means to spread out or distribute. แตก more strongly suggests that something once unified has broken apart.
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แยก is a neutral word for separating or dividing. แตก often suggests that unity has broken down or that a group has scattered.
3 sprout synonyms
4 be exposed synonyms
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เปิดเผย means to reveal or disclose, and it can be intentional. แตก usually suggests that something hidden comes out unintentionally.
5 sound distorted synonyms
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เพี้ยน means off-key, distorted in pitch, or odd in tone/content. แตก refers to a sound cracking or distorting, or a voice changing.
6 be proficient synonyms
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คล่อง means fluent or smooth in speaking, reading, or action. แตกฉาน adds the idea of thorough understanding, not just smooth performance.
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ชำนาญ means skilled through practice or experience. แตกฉาน suggests deep command and understanding, especially of knowledge, language, or texts, and sounds somewhat formal.