กระทำชำเรา

Explanation

In modern Thai, this is a formal legal term found in criminal statutes, police statements, court records, and reports about sexual offenses. It is not the ordinary neutral expression for consensual intercourse. กระทำ means “to carry out” or “to commit,” while ชำเรา refers to the sexual act in this expression. For practical purposes, learners should remember กระทำชำเรา as a single legal phrase. The common combination ข่มขืนกระทำชำเรา explicitly describes forced sexual penetration—that is, rape. However, an act may still be criminal without ข่มขืน in the wording, particularly in cases involving children or a person legally unable to consent.

Usage

It is used in criminal statutes, complaints and investigation documents, court proceedings, police statements, and news reports about sexual offenses. Common patterns include ถูกกระทำชำเรา (“be raped/sexually penetrated”) and กระทำชำเราเด็ก (“sexually penetrate a child”).

Caution

This is a highly sensitive term with strong criminal implications. Using it for consensual sex can wrongly suggest that someone committed a sexual offense. Its exact legal scope depends on the applicable statute, the victim’s age and legal capacity to consent, and the nature of the act, so it does not correspond perfectly to “rape” in every context.

1 rape (someone) synonyms

• ข่มขืน

  ข่มขืน emphasizes coercion or the use of force and commonly means “rape” on its own. กระทำชำเรา is a more formal legal term focused on the act of sexual penetration; the two often occur together as ข่มขืนกระทำชำเรา.

• มีเพศสัมพันธ์

  มีเพศสัมพันธ์ is the neutral expression for having sexual intercourse or a sexual relationship. กระทำชำเรา strongly suggests a legal or criminal context and is inappropriate for ordinarily describing consensual sex.

• ล่วงละเมิดทางเพศ

  ล่วงละเมิดทางเพศ is a broader term for sexual abuse or sexual violation and does not necessarily involve penetration. กระทำชำเรา is a narrower legal term generally associated with sexual penetration.