เดิน
walk
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 walk、go on foot
- 2 run (of a clock or machine)、operate; function
- 3 route; install (wiring or piping)
Its core meaning is to move on foot. By extension, it can describe machinery running, deliberately moving a process forward, or routing wires and pipes along a path.
walk、go on foot
Describes moving from place to place on foot; this is the usual meaning when the verb appears by itself.
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เดินไปโรงเรียน dəən pay rooŋrian walk to school เดินไปโรงเรียน details
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เดินช้าๆ dəən cháa cháa walk slowly เดินช้าๆ details
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ฉันชอบเดินเล่นตอนเย็น chǎn chɔ̂ɔp dəən lên tɔɔn yen I like taking walks in the evening. ฉันชอบเดินเล่นตอนเย็น details
run (of a clock or machine)、operate; function
Describes a clock, machine, or similar device running and performing its intended function.
route; install (wiring or piping)
Describes routing and installing a long object, such as electrical wiring or piping, along a chosen path.
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ช่างกำลังเดินสายไฟ châŋ kamlaŋ dəən sǎay fay The technician is installing electrical wiring. ช่างกำลังเดินสายไฟ details
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ต้องเดินท่ออีกที tɔ̂ŋ dəən thɔ̂ɔ ìik thii We need to run the pipes again. ต้องเดินท่ออีกที details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image is continuous movement along a path. Its most basic use is walking. เดินไป followed by a destination means “walk to,” while เดินมา means “walk here” or “come on foot.” This image of ongoing movement extends to clocks and machines running, procedures being moved forward, and wires or pipes being routed along a path. These extended meanings usually occur in established combinations such as เดินเครื่อง, เดินเรื่อง, เดินรถ, and เดินสายไฟ. The compound เดินทาง means “travel” and does not imply that the journey is made on foot.
Usage
It is extremely common when talking about walking, giving directions, taking a stroll, or commuting on foot. It also appears when discussing whether clocks and machines are running, how administrative or work processes are progressing, the operation of transportation services, and the routing of wiring or pipes.
Caution
On its own, เดิน normally means “walk”; it does not simply mean to go somewhere by vehicle. For travel by vehicle, use expressions such as ไป or นั่งรถไป. It also cannot replace every English use of “run,” “move forward,” or “install.” Its extended meanings depend heavily on established combinations, so learn them as complete expressions.
Differences from similar words
1 walk synonyms
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ก้าว focuses on taking a step or striding. เดิน is the general verb for walking from one place to another.
2 run (of a clock or machine) synonyms
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ทำงาน broadly means to work, whether of a person or a device. เดิน emphasizes that a clock or machine is running.