หมัก
ferment
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 ferment、brew
- 2 marinate、season and leave to rest
- 3 apply and leave on (a hair or skin treatment)
- 4 pile up、accumulate
This word describes leaving something for a period of time so that it ferments, absorbs flavor, or is affected by an applied substance. It can also refer to things being left to accumulate.
ferment、brew
To leave food, drink, or organic matter until fermentation changes its properties.
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หมักเหล้า màk lâw brew alcohol หมักเหล้า details
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ต้องหมักไว้หลายวัน tɔ̂ŋ màk wáy lǎay wan It needs to be left to ferment for several days. ต้องหมักไว้หลายวัน details
marinate、season and leave to rest
To leave meat or another ingredient in seasonings so that it absorbs their flavor; fermentation is not necessarily involved.
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หมักหมู màk mǔu marinate pork หมักหมู details
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หมักไก่กับน้ำปลา màk kày kàp náam plaa marinate chicken in fish sauce หมักไก่กับน้ำปลา details
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หมักไว้ประมาณสามสิบนาที màk wáy pramaan sǎamsìp naathii Leave it to marinate for about 30 minutes. หมักไว้ประมาณสามสิบนาที details
apply and leave on (a hair or skin treatment)
To apply a treatment to the hair or skin and leave it on for a while so that it can take effect.
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หมักผม màk phǒm apply a hair mask หมักผม details
pile up、accumulate
To remain unattended and build up, often resulting in an unpleasant or worsening condition. It commonly appears in the form หมักหมม.
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ขยะหมักหมม khayà màkmǒm Garbage has piled up and become foul. ขยะหมักหมม details
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ปัญหาที่หมักหมมมานาน panhǎa thîi màkmǒm maa naan problems that have built up over many years ปัญหาที่หมักหมมมานาน details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of หมัก is to leave something in a particular state long enough for an internal change to occur. With food, it can describe either fermentation or marinating in seasonings. For example, หมักหมู normally means “marinate pork,” not “ferment pork.” The intended meaning depends on the ingredient, the added substances, and the length of time involved. The basic pattern is หมัก followed by the item being treated. หมัก A กับ B means to leave A with B, while หมักไว้ followed by a duration indicates how long it is left. In beauty contexts, it can also describe applying a hair or skin treatment and leaving it on to work.
Usage
It is especially common in recipes, where it describes marinating meat, and in discussions of fermented foods or alcoholic drinks. Beauty instructions use it for treatments that must be left on the hair or skin. In the form หมักหมม, it describes neglected garbage, dirt, or unresolved problems that have built up over time.
Caution
Do not automatically translate หมัก as “ferment.” When meat is left in seasoning for a short time, “marinate” is the natural interpretation. Use แช่ for simply soaking something and ดอง for pickling it in brine, vinegar, or a similar preserving liquid. For unpleasant accumulation, หมักหมม is more common than หมัก by itself.
Differences from similar words
1 ferment synonyms
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ดอง means to preserve something in brine, vinegar, or a similar liquid. หมัก focuses on transforming the material through fermentation.
2 marinate synonyms
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แช่ simply means to soak or immerse something. หมัก specifically suggests leaving food long enough for seasoning and aroma to penetrate it.
3 apply and leave on (a hair or skin treatment) synonyms
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ทา refers simply to applying or spreading a product. หมัก includes leaving the product on for some time so that it can work.
4 pile up synonyms
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สะสม is neutral and can describe deliberately collecting things, money, or experience. หมัก, especially หมักหมม, often implies neglected buildup that has become dirty or problematic.