ชาวนา
rice farmer
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 rice farmer、rice grower
A common word for someone who grows rice in paddy fields, usually as an occupation or livelihood.
rice farmer、rice grower
A person who farms paddy fields and grows rice, rather than a farmer in the broadest sense.
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พ่อของฉันเป็นชาวนา phɔ̂ɔ khɔ̌ɔŋ chǎn pen chaaw naa My father is a rice farmer. พ่อของฉันเป็นชาวนา details
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ชาวนากำลังเกี่ยวข้าว chaaw naa kamlaŋ kìaw khâaw The rice farmers are harvesting rice. ชาวนากำลังเกี่ยวข้าว details
Learning notes
Explanation
ชาวนา combines ชาว, referring to people associated with a place, group, or activity, with นา, meaning a paddy field or rice farming. It can refer to one rice farmer or to rice farmers collectively. When counting individuals, คน is used, as in ชาวนาหนึ่งคน, “one rice farmer,” and ชาวนาหลายคน, “many rice farmers.” It is an ordinary, widely used word found in conversation, news reports, and educational materials.
Usage
It is commonly used when stating someone’s occupation, as in เป็นชาวนา, “to be a rice farmer,” and when discussing planting, harvesting, and other work in rice fields. It also appears frequently in news about rice prices, droughts, floods, and farmer assistance.
Caution
ชาวนา is narrower than the general English word farmer: it normally means a person who grows rice. Use เกษตรกร when referring broadly to people working in agriculture, including crop growers and livestock farmers. Avoid translating it as peasant in ordinary contexts, since that word can suggest social class or carry a negative tone.
Differences from similar words
1 rice farmer synonyms
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เกษตรกร is a broad term for an agricultural worker or farmer, including people engaged in crop farming, orchards, or livestock. ชาวนา specifically refers to someone who grows rice.