ผ่อน
ease
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 ease、lessen、slacken
- 2 pay in installments、make loan payments
This word expresses reducing pressure, tension, intensity, or strictness. It also commonly refers to spreading a financial burden over time by paying in installments.
ease、lessen、slacken
To reduce tension, force, intensity, strain, or severity, making something less demanding or extreme.
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ช่วยผ่อนเสียงลงหน่อย chûay phɔ̀ɔn sǐaŋ loŋ nɔ̀ɔy Could you lower your voice a little? ช่วยผ่อนเสียงลงหน่อย details
pay in installments、make loan payments
To pay for a purchase or repay a debt gradually through a series of installments.
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ฉันผ่อนบ้านหมดแล้ว chǎn phɔ̀ɔn bâan mòt lɛ́ɛw I've finished paying off my home loan. ฉันผ่อนบ้านหมดแล้ว details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea is to make a force or burden lighter instead of letting it apply at full strength all at once. It can describe easing physical force, pace, acceleration, or the voice, as well as relieving tension or making rules less strict. In this sense, it often appears in combinations such as ผ่อนคลาย, ผ่อนแรง, and ผ่อนปรน. Its installment sense comes from spreading a financial burden across multiple payments. In everyday Thai, ผ่อน alone can mean either buying something on installments or making regular loan payments. ผ่อนชำระ states this meaning more explicitly.
Usage
In everyday situations, it is used when easing off an accelerator, slowing one's pace, lowering one's voice, or reducing effort. Related compounds are also common when discussing relaxation, stress relief, and relaxed rules, conditions, or deadlines. In shopping and financial contexts, it is very common when discussing installment purchases or loan payments for homes, cars, phones, and appliances. Typical questions include ผ่อนกี่เดือน, “Over how many months?”, and ผ่อนเดือนละเท่าไร, “How much is the monthly payment?”
Caution
ผ่อน is not a universal equivalent of “loosen” or “reduce.” ทำให้หลวม is more natural for making clothing looser, คลาย for loosening or undoing a knot, and ลดราคา for lowering a price. Also, ผ่อนคลาย means to relax or release tension, while พักผ่อน means to rest. Learners should avoid using bare ผ่อน simply to mean “take a rest.”
Differences from similar words
1 ease synonyms
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คลาย focuses on something becoming untied, loose, or free from tension. ผ่อน has a broader sense of easing the degree of force, speed, strain, or pressure.
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ลด is the general verb for lowering or reducing an amount, price, or level. ผ่อน more strongly suggests easing tension, force, intensity, or burden.
2 pay in installments synonyms
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จ่าย is the general verb for paying, including a single cash payment. ผ่อน specifically means spreading the payment over multiple installments.