ขู่
threaten
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- 1 threaten、intimidate、menace
This verb means to threaten or intimidate someone by making them afraid. It can describe verbal threats by people or threatening behavior by animals.
threaten、intimidate、menace
Used when someone creates fear or pressure by suggesting harm, punishment, or another bad consequence.
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เขาขู่ฉัน khǎw khùu chǎn He threatened me. เขาขู่ฉัน details
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อย่าขู่เด็ก yàa khùu dèk Don't scare the child with threats. อย่าขู่เด็ก details
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เขาขู่ว่าจะฟ้อง khǎw khùu wâa cà fɔ́ɔŋ He threatened to sue. เขาขู่ว่าจะฟ้อง details
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หมาขู่คนแปลกหน้า mǎa khùu khon plɛ̀ɛk nâa The dog growled threateningly at the stranger. หมาขู่คนแปลกหน้า details
Learning notes
Explanation
ขู่ is used when words or behavior are meant to make someone afraid. A common pattern is ขู่ + person, meaning “to threaten someone,” and ขู่ว่า... means “to threaten that...” It can also describe an animal acting aggressively, such as a dog growling at someone. The word has a negative tone and is not used for ordinary advice or helpful warnings.
Usage
It is common in contexts involving arguments, bullying, crime, pressure in negotiation, harsh scolding, or animal aggression. In everyday speech, it can also describe someone making empty threats, as in เขาแค่ขู่, “He’s only threatening.”
Caution
Do not use ขู่ for simply surprising or startling someone as a joke. It normally implies threat, intimidation, or aggressive pressure.
Differences from similar words
1 threaten synonyms
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ข่มขู่ sounds stronger and more forceful, often used in crime or serious intimidation contexts. ขู่ is the more basic word for threatening or intimidating in general.
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หลอก means to deceive or trick someone. ขู่ is about making someone afraid, whether or not the threat will actually be carried out.
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เตือน means to warn or remind someone, often for their benefit. ขู่ focuses on using fear or pressure to make someone feel threatened.