hit
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- 1 hit、beat、physically attack
Describes physically attacking someone by hitting or beating them.
hit、beat、physically attack
To physically attack a person by striking or beating them, often as part of a fight or repeated violence.
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เขาตบตีภรรยา khǎw tòp tii phanrayaa He physically abuses his wife. เขาตบตีภรรยา details
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เด็กสองคนตบตีกัน dèk sɔ̌ɔŋ khon tòp tii kan The two children are hitting each other. เด็กสองคนตบตีกัน details
Learning notes
Explanation
ตบตี combines ตบ, “to slap or strike with a flat surface,” and ตี, “to hit or beat.” It does not require both actions to occur separately; together they describe physical violence against a person. In the pattern “actor + ตบตี + victim,” one person attacks another. Adding กัน makes the action reciprocal: ตบตีกัน means “to hit each other” or “to get into a physical fight.” For one specific action, such as a single slap, ตบ or ตี is usually more precise.
Usage
It is used when discussing actual hitting or beating, such as domestic violence, corporal punishment, or fights between children or adults. It also appears in warnings and commands such as อย่าตบตีกัน, “Don’t fight.”
Caution
Do not normally use this word for a mere disagreement or verbal argument; ทะเลาะ is appropriate when no physical violence is involved. To state clearly that people are hitting each other, use ตบตีกัน with กัน.