นิ่ม
soft (to the touch)
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 soft (to the touch)
Describes something that yields easily when touched or pressed, or food that is easy to bite and chew.
soft (to the touch)
Describes something that is not hard and gives way easily when touched or pressed.
-
หมอนใบนี้นิ่มมาก mɔ̌ɔn bay níi nîm mâak This pillow is very soft. หมอนใบนี้นิ่มมาก details
-
มือของเธอนิ่มมาก mʉʉ khɔ̌ɔŋ thəə nîm mâak Her hands are very soft. มือของเธอนิ่มมาก details
Show more (2)
-
ต้มมันฝรั่งจนนิ่ม tôm man faràŋ con nîm Boil the potatoes until tender. ต้มมันฝรั่งจนนิ่ม details
-
ข้าวนิ่มกำลังดี khâaw nîm kamlaŋ dii The rice is perfectly tender. ข้าวนิ่มกำลังดี details
Learning notes
Explanation
นิ่ม centers on physical softness: something gives way or dents slightly when pressed. It is commonly used for pillows, mattresses, fabric, skin, and similar things. With food, it describes meat, vegetables, or other items that are not hard and are easy to chew. Thai adjectives can function as predicates, so หมอนนิ่ม may mean “a soft pillow” or “the pillow is soft,” depending on context. Common combinations include นิ่มมาก, “very soft,” and นิ่มเกินไป, “too soft.” For a gentle voice or manner, นุ่มนวล or อ่อนโยน is generally more natural.
Usage
Commonly used when discussing the feel of pillows, mattresses, clothing, fabric, or skin. It is also used while cooking or eating to describe meat, vegetables, rice, and other foods that are easy to chew.
Caution
นิ่ม does not cover every sense of English “soft.” Use อ่อน for meanings such as flexible, weak, young, or pale. To describe a gentle personality or manner, อ่อนโยน or นุ่มนวล is usually more appropriate.
Differences from similar words
1 soft (to the touch) synonyms
-
นุ่ม is a broad word for softness and can also describe a pleasant texture, voice, or manner. นิ่ม more specifically suggests physical softness—something that yields when pressed.
-
อ่อน has a wider range of meanings, including flexible, weak, young, and pale. นิ่ม mainly describes softness that can be physically felt.