สะบัด
flick
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 flick、flip、whip (something) around
- 2 shake off、flick off、pull free with a jerk
- 3 flutter、flap、whip in the air
- 4 extremely [slang]、stunningly [slang]
This word describes a quick, forceful flicking or whipping movement, especially of a body part or something flexible. It can also mean shaking something off, fluttering, or turning away in irritation.
flick、flip、whip (something) around
Describes moving a body part, cloth, or another flexible object with a quick, sharp flick.
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เธอสะบัดผมไปข้างหลัง thəə sabàt phǒm pay khâaŋ lǎŋ She flicked her hair back. เธอสะบัดผมไปข้างหลัง details
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สะบัดผ้าก่อนตาก sabàt phâa kɔ̀ɔn tàak Give the cloth a quick shake before hanging it up. สะบัดผ้าก่อนตาก details
shake off、flick off、pull free with a jerk
Means to remove water, dust, a grip, or something else by making a quick, forceful movement.
flutter、flap、whip in the air
Describes a flag, hair, clothing, or another flexible object fluttering or whipping through the air.
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กระโปรงสะบัดตามจังหวะการเต้น kraprooŋ sabàt taam caŋwà kaan tên The skirt swishes with the rhythm of the dance. กระโปรงสะบัดตามจังหวะการเต้น details
extremely [slang]、stunningly [slang]
In casual modern speech, it follows a descriptive word to intensify it in a playful, flamboyant way.
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วันนี้เธอสวยสะบัดเลย wan níi thəə sǔay sabàt ləəy She looks absolutely stunning today. วันนี้เธอสวยสะบัดเลย details
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ลุคนี้แซ่บสะบัด lúk níi sɛ̂ɛp sabàt This look is outrageously hot. ลุคนี้แซ่บสะบัด details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image is a single quick, sharp movement, like a flick of the wrist. It often suggests speed, force, flexibility, and an abrupt change of direction. The best translation depends on what is moving. With hair or cloth, it may mean “flick” or “give a quick shake.” With water or dust, it means “shake off.” When someone pulls a held hand away, it can mean “jerk free.” With a flag or loose clothing as the subject, it describes fluttering or whipping through the air. In สะบัดหน้า, the abrupt movement of the face or head commonly communicates irritation or rejection, so it means to turn away in a huff. That emotional meaning comes from the construction and context rather than being present in every use of สะบัด. In contemporary casual language, it can also follow a positive descriptive word, as in สวยสะบัด, to create an exaggerated, playful intensifier meaning “absolutely” or “stunningly.”
Usage
It is common in everyday descriptions of flicking hair back, shaking water from the hands, removing dust from clothing, or snapping out a piece of cloth before hanging it up. It also describes a dog shaking itself dry or a flag and skirt fluttering in the air. In emotional scenes, it can describe someone turning their face away in annoyance or jerking their hand free in rejection. The slang intensifier is mainly heard in friendly conversation, social media, entertainment, and fashion-related contexts.
Caution
Do not use สะบัด for every kind of shaking or waving. Use เขย่า for repeated shaking and โบก for waving a hand in greeting. สะบัด normally highlights one quick, sharp movement. Constructions such as สะบัดหน้า or jerking a hand away can imply irritation or strong rejection. Its use as an intensifier is highly informal; มาก, มากๆ, or อย่างยิ่ง is more appropriate in formal speech and writing.
Differences from similar words
1 flick synonyms
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เขย่า means to shake something, often repeatedly. สะบัด emphasizes a quick, sharp flick or whipping motion.
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โบก is commonly used for waving a hand or flag back and forth. สะบัด suggests a sharper and more forceful movement.
2 shake off synonyms
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ปัด usually means brushing or swiping something away with a hand or tool. สะบัด often removes it by sharply moving the object or body part itself.
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สลัด also means to shake something off or break free of it. สะบัด more vividly highlights the quick physical flick or jerk used to do so.
3 flutter synonyms
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พลิ้ว suggests a light, graceful, flowing movement of fabric or hair. สะบัด conveys a quicker, stronger, or sharper fluttering motion.