ทาน
eat
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 eat、drink、take (medicine)
- 2 alms、charity、donation
Most commonly, ทาน is a polite, softer way to say “eat” or “drink.” It also has separate meanings related to Buddhist or charitable giving, and in more formal contexts it can mean to withstand, resist, or check something.
eat、drink、take (medicine)
A polite but everyday way to say “eat” or “drink,” softer than กิน and less formal than รับประทาน. It can also be used for taking medicine.
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ทานข้าวหรือยัง thaan khâaw rʉ̌ʉ yaŋ Have you eaten yet? ทานข้าวหรือยัง details
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เชิญทานก่อนครับ chəən thaan kɔ̀ɔn khráp Please go ahead and eat first. เชิญทานก่อนครับ details
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ต้องทานยาหลังอาหาร tɔ̂ŋ thaan yaa lǎŋ aahǎan You need to take the medicine after meals. ต้องทานยาหลังอาหาร details
alms、charity、donation
This refers to alms, charity, or a gift given without expecting anything in return, often in Buddhist or charitable contexts.
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ทำทาน tham thaan to give alms ทำทาน details
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ให้ทานแก่คนยากจน hây thaan kɛ̀ɛ khon yâak con to give charity to poor people ให้ทานแก่คนยากจน details
Learning notes
Explanation
For learners, the first meaning to learn is the polite everyday verb “to eat/drink.” It is useful when speaking to customers, older people, or anyone you want to address gently. The same spelling also has a separate noun meaning “alms” or “charity,” especially in ทำทาน and ให้ทาน. The meanings “withstand/resist” and “proofread” are more formal or are commonly encountered in compounds such as ต้านทาน, ทนทาน, and ตรวจทาน.
Usage
In everyday conversation, it is common when inviting someone to eat, asking whether they have eaten, offering food or drinks, or talking about taking medicine. In religious or charitable contexts, it appears when talking about giving alms or donations. In written or technical contexts, it may refer to withstanding weight or pressure, or to proofreading a document.
Caution
ทาน for “eat” is polite, but not the most formal option. In very formal settings, รับประทาน is safer; among close friends, กิน often sounds more natural. In ทำทาน, ทาน means “alms/charity,” not “eat,” so rely on context.
Differences from similar words
1 eat synonyms
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กิน is the most basic everyday word for “eat.” ทาน sounds more polite and softer, often used with customers, older people, or when speaking a bit more carefully.
2 alms synonyms
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บริจาค means to donate money or goods to an organization, temple, or cause. ทาน has a stronger sense of alms or charitable giving as a good deed, often with Buddhist associations.