แล่น

Explanation

The core image is smooth, forward movement with momentum. It is especially common with boats, as in เรือแล่น “a boat sails,” but it can also be used with cars and other vehicles. Word order changes the viewpoint. เรือแล่น means that the boat moves, while แล่นเรือ means to operate or sail a boat. The same image extends figuratively to thoughts and mental activity, as in ความคิดแล่นเข้ามาในหัว, where an idea flashes into the mind, and สมองแล่น, where the brain is working quickly. Some dictionaries also record a specialized sense meaning that parts of a structure connect with one another. That use is not a priority for beginning and intermediate learners, so it is not included as a main sense here.

Usage

Commonly used when describing boats leaving port or traveling on water, and vehicles moving smoothly along a road. In conversation, it also appears when an idea suddenly comes to mind or when someone says their brain is or is not working well.

Caution

Use วิ่ง for a person running in the ordinary sense. Also distinguish รถแล่น, where the car is moving, from ขับรถ, where a person is driving the car.

1 sail (of a boat) synonyms

• ขับ

  khàp drive (a vehicle)

  ขับ describes a person driving or operating a vehicle. แล่น describes the vehicle itself moving.

• วิ่ง

  wîŋ run

  วิ่ง is the general verb for running and is used for people, animals, and vehicles. แล่น focuses more on a boat or vehicle moving forward smoothly.

2 flash through the mind synonyms

• นึกออก

  นึกออก means to recall something or come up with an answer. แล่น presents an idea as moving quickly through the mind or describes thought flowing smoothly.