หนี
escape
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 escape、flee、run away
- 2 avoid、evade、get away from
- 3 skip、shirk、evade、dodge (an obligation)
หนี means to get away from something threatening, unwanted, or burdensome. It can describe physically fleeing, avoiding a person or problem, or shirking an obligation.
escape、flee、run away
This is the basic sense of physically getting away from danger, a pursuer, or an unsafe place.
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โจรหนีไปแล้ว coon nǐi pay lɛ́ɛw The thief has already fled. โจรหนีไปแล้ว details
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หนีออกจากบ้าน nǐi ɔ̀ɔk càak bâan run away from home หนีออกจากบ้าน details
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หนีไฟ nǐi fay escape from a fire หนีไฟ details
avoid、evade、get away from
This sense means avoiding a person, problem, or situation so that you do not have to face it.
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อย่าหนีปัญหา yàa nǐi panhǎa Don’t run away from the problem. อย่าหนีปัญหา details
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เขาหนีหน้าเพื่อน khǎw nǐi nâa phʉ̂an He is avoiding his friend. เขาหนีหน้าเพื่อน details
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หนีไม่พ้น nǐi mây phón cannot escape; cannot avoid it หนีไม่พ้น details
skip、shirk、evade、dodge (an obligation)
This sense means skipping, shirking, or evading something one is expected or required to do, such as class, work, taxes, debt, or responsibility.
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หนีเรียน nǐi rian skip class หนีเรียน details
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หนีงาน nǐi ŋaan skip work; shirk work หนีงาน details
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หนีภาษี nǐi phaasǐi evade taxes หนีภาษี details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of หนี is moving away from something that is approaching, threatening, unwanted, or burdensome. It can take a direct object, as in หนีตำรวจ “run from the police” or หนีปัญหา “run away from a problem.” To specify the place one escapes from, หนีออกจาก... and หนีจาก... are common. The word is neutral when escaping danger, but it often sounds negative when used with duties, taxes, debt, work, class, or responsibility.
Usage
หนี is common in everyday conversation, news reports, emergencies, school and work contexts, relationships, and legal or financial topics. It is used for criminals fleeing, people escaping a fire, students skipping class, someone avoiding responsibility, or a person dodging someone they do not want to meet.
Caution
Do not use หนี for every “avoid.” It can sound stronger than a neutral “avoid,” so เลี่ยง or หลีกเลี่ยง is often better for ordinary avoidance. Also note หนีหนี้ means “run away from debt”: หนี is “escape,” while หนี้ is “debt.”
Differences from similar words
1 escape synonyms
2 avoid synonyms
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หลีกเลี่ยง is a more neutral or formal word for avoiding something. หนี feels more like running away from or refusing to face something.
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เลี่ยง is an everyday word for avoiding or steering clear of something. หนี is stronger and can sound like escaping or dodging responsibility.