หลัก
basis
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 basis、principle、standard、foundation
- 2 main、primary、major、principal
- 3 post、stake、pole、pillar
- 4 digit place、place value、order of magnitude、range of about
- 5 footing、balance、stable base
หลัก has the core idea of something that stands firm and supports things. It can mean a post or stake, a principle or basis, the main part of something, or a digit/place in numbers. It is also commonly used after a noun to mean “main” or “primary.”
basis、principle、standard、foundation
This sense refers to the basis, principle, or core rule that supports an idea, action, system, or decision.
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ตามหลัก taam làk in principle ตามหลัก details
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ยึดหลักความยุติธรรม yʉ́t làk khwaam yúttìtham follow the principle of fairness ยึดหลักความยุติธรรม details
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หลักภาษาไทย làk phaasǎa thay the rules of Thai grammar หลักภาษาไทย details
main、primary、major、principal
Placed after a noun, หลัก means that something is the main, primary, or central one among several possibilities.
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ปัญหาหลัก panhǎa làk the main problem ปัญหาหลัก details
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รายได้หลัก raay dâay làk main income รายได้หลัก details
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ลูกค้าหลัก lûuk kháa làk main customers ลูกค้าหลัก details
post、stake、pole、pillar
This sense means a physical post, pole, pillar, or stake used for support, tying something, or marking a place.
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หลักไม้ làk máay a wooden stake หลักไม้ details
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ผูกเรือไว้กับหลัก phùuk rʉa wáy kàp làk tie the boat to a post ผูกเรือไว้กับหลัก details
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ปักหลัก pàk làk drive in a stake; settle down ปักหลัก details
digit place、place value、order of magnitude、range of about
In numbers, หลัก refers to a digit place or order of magnitude, and it is also used to describe approximate price or quantity ranges.
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หลักสิบ làk sìp the tens place; in the tens หลักสิบ details
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เลขสามหลัก lêek sǎam làk a three-digit number เลขสามหลัก details
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ราคาหลักพัน raakhaa làk phan a price in the thousands ราคาหลักพัน details
footing、balance、stable base
This sense refers to footing, balance, or a stable base in life. It is mostly used in fixed expressions.
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เสียหลัก sǐa làk lose balance เสียหลัก details
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ตั้งหลัก tâŋ làk regain one's footing ตั้งหลัก details
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ลงหลักปักฐาน loŋ làk pàk thǎan settle down and establish a base ลงหลักปักฐาน details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image of หลัก is something firm that supports or anchors things. From the concrete meaning “post” or “stake,” it extends to “basis,” “principle,” “main thing,” and “digit place.” When it means “main” or “primary,” it usually comes after the noun, as in ปัญหาหลัก “main problem” or รายได้หลัก “main income.” The form หลักๆ is common in conversation and means “mainly” or “in broad terms.”
Usage
หลัก is used widely in everyday conversation, school, work, news, math, and discussions of prices or quantities. You will hear it in phrases like ปัญหาหลัก “main problem,” ตามหลัก “in principle,” and ราคาหลักพัน or ราคาหลักล้าน for approximate price ranges.
Caution
Be careful with word order: for “main X,” Thai usually uses noun + หลัก, such as ปัญหาหลัก for “main problem.” Also, หลักล้าน and similar expressions usually mean “in the millions,” not exactly one million.
Differences from similar words
1 basis synonyms
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หลักการ means a principle or guiding concept as a more complete abstract noun. หลัก is broader and can mean a basis, standard, or supporting idea, and it appears in many compounds.
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เกณฑ์ emphasizes criteria or conditions for judgment. หลัก is broader and refers to a basis or principle that supports thinking or action.
2 main synonyms
3 post synonyms
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เสา is a general word for a pillar or column. หลัก often suggests a stake, post, or marker fixed in the ground and used for support or attachment.