water-filled ditch
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- 1 water-filled ditch、irrigation ditch、drainage ditch、moat
This word refers to a long, open ditch dug into the ground to carry or hold water, such as a roadside drain, an irrigation ditch, or a moat.
water-filled ditch、irrigation ditch、drainage ditch、moat
A long, open channel dug in the ground to carry or hold water; depending on its setting, it may function as a drainage ditch, an irrigation ditch, or a moat.
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เมืองเก่ามีคูน้ำล้อมรอบ mʉaŋ kàw mii khuu náam lɔ́ɔm rɔ̂ɔp The old city is surrounded by a moat. เมืองเก่ามีคูน้ำล้อมรอบ details
Learning notes
Explanation
คูน้ำ combines คู, “a long ditch dug in the ground,” with น้ำ, “water.” Its basic image is a narrow, human-made channel that is open at the top and carries or holds water. The best English translation depends on its function: it may be a drainage ditch beside a road, an irrigation ditch in farmland, or a moat surrounding a city or building. Common combinations include ขุดคูน้ำ (“dig a water ditch”), ตกคูน้ำ (“fall into a ditch”), and ทำความสะอาดคูน้ำ (“clean a drainage ditch”). When individual locations are counted, แห่ง may be used as the classifier.
Usage
It is commonly used when discussing roadside or residential drainage, irrigation in fields, and channels marking property boundaries. It also appears in descriptions of moats around old cities and historical sites, as well as conversations about rainy-season drainage, blocked ditches, and waterway maintenance.
Caution
Do not confuse it with ท่อระบายน้ำ, which is a drainage pipe or enclosed drain. คูน้ำ is normally an open channel dug into the ground. For a city moat specifically, คูเมือง or คูน้ำรอบเมือง is clearer.
Differences from similar words
1 water-filled ditch synonyms
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คลอง usually refers to a larger canal or established waterway, often one that boats can use. คูน้ำ more often describes a smaller open ditch beside a road or across farmland.
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คู is the broader word for a long ditch or trench and does not necessarily specify water. คูน้ำ explicitly identifies it as a ditch that carries or contains water.