ไหว
be able to manage
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 be able to manage、be able to endure
- 2 sway、shake、move
This word mainly expresses being able to manage or endure something under the present conditions. It can also describe something moving, swaying, or shaking.
be able to manage、be able to endure
Placed after a verb, it indicates that someone can manage the action given their current strength, condition, or circumstances.
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เดินไหวไหม dəən wǎy mǎy Can you manage to walk? เดินไหวไหม details
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ยกไม่ไหว yók mây wǎy I can't manage to lift it. ยกไม่ไหว details
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กินไม่ไหวแล้ว kin mây wǎy lɛ́ɛw I can't eat any more. กินไม่ไหวแล้ว details
sway、shake、move
Describes an object moving back and forth, swaying, or shaking because of wind, vibration, or another force.
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ใบไม้ไหวตามลม bay máay wǎy taam lom The leaves sway in the wind. ใบไม้ไหวตามลม details
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แผ่นดินไหว phɛ̀ndinwǎy earthquake แผ่นดินไหว details
Learning notes
Explanation
The most important everyday pattern is “verb + ไหว.” It does not simply describe general ability; it asks whether an action is manageable given someone’s present health, strength, energy, workload, finances, or other constraints. “Verb + ไม่ไหว” means that the action is too much to manage, while “verb + ไหวไหม” asks whether it is manageable. ไหว can also stand alone to mean “I’m okay” or “I can manage.” Common responses include ไม่ไหว (“I can’t manage it” or “This is too much”) and ยังไหว (“I’m still okay”). Its other concrete meaning is physical movement such as swaying or shaking. This idea of movement also appears in compounds such as เคลื่อนไหว and หวั่นไหว.
Usage
It is common when checking whether someone can walk despite being tired, lift something heavy, eat more food, or cope with heat, pain, stress, expenses, or a heavy workload. In its movement sense, it is used for leaves and branches swaying in the wind or for floors, buildings, and other objects shaking.
Caution
Do not treat ไหว as interchangeable with ได้ or เป็น. For example, ว่ายน้ำเป็น means “know how to swim,” ว่ายน้ำได้ generally means “can swim,” and ว่ายน้ำไหว means “have enough strength or capacity to swim under the present conditions.” Also, ไหว้, with the tone mark ้, is a different word meaning to perform a wai or pay respect with joined palms. Be careful not to confuse the spellings.
Differences from similar words
1 be able to manage synonyms
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เป็น indicates knowing how to perform a learned skill. ไหว instead asks whether someone has enough strength or capacity to do it in the current situation.
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ได้ is the general way to say an action is possible or permitted. ไหว focuses on whether someone can physically, mentally, or practically manage it under the present conditions.