ลง

Explanation

The core image of ลง is movement from the current position or level toward a lower one. It is a highly common word and is broadly opposed to ขึ้น, “go up” or “rise.” As a main verb, it can describe descending stairs or a mountain, getting off a vehicle, an aircraft landing, or a price or level falling. After another verb, it adds downward direction or a lower endpoint, as in นั่งลง “sit down” and วางลง “put down.” The idea of placing something into an appropriate location also extends to ลงชื่อ “sign,” ลงทะเบียน “register,” and ลงรูป “post a photo.” Expressions such as ลงสี “apply color” and ลงทุน “invest” are best learned as complete combinations. After an adjective, ลง marks a change such as เย็นลง “become cooler” or แย่ลง “get worse.” In negative expressions such as กินไม่ลง “be unable to eat” and ทำไม่ลง “be unable to bring oneself to do it,” it has a grammatical function that no longer refers literally to downward movement.

Usage

ลง is used constantly when talking about going downstairs or downhill and getting off a car, bus, or other vehicle. It is also common for falling prices, temperatures, weight, and water levels. Other everyday settings include signing forms, registering, publishing news or advertisements, posting photos or videos online, and installing apps or software. It also frequently follows another verb when describing actions such as sitting down, putting something down, or turning a sound down.

Caution

With most vehicles, ขึ้นรถ means “get in or board a vehicle,” while ลงรถ means “get out or get off.” Boats are an important exception: ลงเรือ commonly means “board a boat.” To clearly say “get off a boat,” use ลงจากเรือ. Use ลงจาก followed by a place or vehicle to state the point of departure, and ลงที่ followed by a place to state where someone gets off. Do not translate every expression containing ลง literally as “down.” Combinations such as ลงชื่อ, ลงทุน, ลงมือ, and ลงโทษ need to be learned as complete expressions.

1 go down synonyms

• ตก

  tòk fall

  ตก means to fall or drop, typically under gravity. ลง is the more general term for downward movement and can describe an intentional descent.

• ลด

  lót decrease

  ลด focuses on reducing an amount or degree. ลง primarily describes downward movement but can also describe a decline in a value.

5 become less synonyms

• ขึ้น

  khʉ̂n upward

  ขึ้น marks an upward change, as in มากขึ้น “increase” or ดีขึ้น “improve.” ลง commonly marks a downward change, reduction, or worsening.

6 write down synonyms

• เขียน

  khǐan write

  เขียน is the general verb “to write.” ลง focuses on entering a name or information into a designated field, record, or medium.

• โพสต์

  โพสต์ is a direct, informal loanword for posting on social media. ลง is broader and can mean placing a photo, video, article, or notice in a medium.

7 apply synonyms

• ทา

  thaa apply

  ทา is the general verb for spreading medicine, cream, or paint on a surface. ลง occurs in established combinations such as ลงสี and ลงยา and cannot freely replace ทา in every context.

• ลงทุน

  loŋ thun invest

  ลงทุน is the established compound meaning “invest.” ลง by itself normally does not express financial investment; it is used together with ทุน.

8 manage to do synonyms

• ได้

  dâay can

  ทำไม่ได้ is the general way to say something cannot be done because of ability, circumstances, or rules. ทำไม่ลง often means someone cannot bring themselves to do it because of conscience or emotion.