สอบ
take an exam
Native recording
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- 1 take an exam、test (someone’s knowledge or ability)
- 2 exam、test
- 3 investigate、question (as part of an investigation)
- 4 tapered、narrowing toward the end
This word primarily refers to testing someone’s knowledge or taking an exam. It can also mean investigating facts, and as an adjective it describes a tapered shape.
take an exam、test (someone’s knowledge or ability)
It describes testing someone’s knowledge or ability, as well as taking an exam oneself; the subject and context show which meaning is intended.
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พรุ่งนี้ฉันจะสอบภาษาไทย phrûŋníi chǎn cà sɔ̀ɔp phaasǎa thay I’m taking a Thai exam tomorrow. พรุ่งนี้ฉันจะสอบภาษาไทย details
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ครูสอบนักเรียนเรื่องคำศัพท์ khruu sɔ̀ɔp nákrian rʉ̂aŋ khamsàp The teacher tests the students on vocabulary. ครูสอบนักเรียนเรื่องคำศัพท์ details
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เขาสอบผ่านแล้ว khǎw sɔ̀ɔp phàan lɛ́ɛw He has already passed the exam. เขาสอบผ่านแล้ว details
exam、test
In everyday speech, it can refer to an exam or test itself.
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พรุ่งนี้มีสอบ phrûŋníi mii sɔ̀ɔp There’s an exam tomorrow. พรุ่งนี้มีสอบ details
investigate、question (as part of an investigation)
It means examining or investigating a matter to establish the facts, especially in official contexts and compound words.
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ตั้งกรรมการสอบเรื่องนี้ tâŋ kammaakaan sɔ̀ɔp rʉ̂aŋ níi A committee was appointed to investigate this matter. ตั้งกรรมการสอบเรื่องนี้ details
tapered、narrowing toward the end
It describes a hollow object or garment that becomes narrower toward one or both ends.
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กางเกงขาสอบ kaaŋkeeŋ khǎa sɔ̀ɔp tapered-leg pants กางเกงขาสอบ details
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กระโปรงทรงสอบ kraprooŋ soŋ sɔ̀ɔp a pencil skirt กระโปรงทรงสอบ details
Learning notes
Explanation
In exam-related uses, the subject and object reveal who is giving the test and who is taking it. นักเรียนสอบ means that the students take an exam, while ครูสอบนักเรียน means that the teacher tests the students. These are two perspectives on the same basic idea of assessing knowledge or ability. Common result expressions include สอบผ่าน “pass,” สอบไม่ผ่าน “not pass,” and สอบตก “fail.” The investigative meaning can occur by itself in official inquiries, but in everyday language it is especially common in compounds such as สอบถาม, สอบสวน, and ตรวจสอบ.
Usage
It is extremely common when discussing school tests, entrance exams, professional qualifications, and employment exams. Standalone สอบ also appears in official fact-finding inquiries, while compounds are used for asking, investigating, and verifying. The adjective is often encountered in fashion descriptions, especially for trouser legs.
Caution
Use ทดสอบ rather than สอบ for general performance testing of products, machines, or features. Exam questions or an exam paper are called ข้อสอบ. The adjective meaning “tapered” is unrelated to exams, so context is essential in expressions such as กางเกงขาสอบ.
Differences from similar words
1 take an exam synonyms
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ทดสอบ means to test a person, product, function, or capability in a broad sense. สอบ is especially common for academic, professional, and employment exams, and can also mean to take an exam.
2 exam synonyms
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ข้อสอบ refers to exam questions or an exam paper. สอบ refers to the exam event or the act of taking it.
3 investigate synonyms
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ตรวจสอบ is the usual word for checking or verifying information, documents, or products. Standalone สอบ is more often used for an official inquiry into a case or issue.
4 tapered synonyms
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เรียว broadly describes something slender or gracefully narrow, such as fingers or legs. สอบ specifically emphasizes a shape that narrows toward an end.