look for
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- 1 look for、seek
Describes looking for someone or something, including less tangible things such as a job, an opportunity, or a solution.
look for、seek
To direct attention toward finding a person, object, or something needed, such as a job or solution.
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คุณมองหาใครอยู่ khun mɔɔŋ hǎa khray yùu Who are you looking for? คุณมองหาใครอยู่ details
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บริษัทกำลังมองหาพนักงานใหม่ bɔɔrisàt kamlaŋ mɔɔŋ hǎa phánákŋaan mày The company is looking for new employees. บริษัทกำลังมองหาพนักงานใหม่ details
Learning notes
Explanation
มองหา combines มอง, “to look,” with หา, “to seek.” Its core image is directing one's eyes or attention toward finding a desired target. The usual pattern is มองหา followed by the target. That target may be visible, such as a person or a key, or abstract, such as a job, an opportunity, or a solution. An ongoing search can be expressed with กำลังมองหา…, มองหา…อยู่, or กำลังมองหา…อยู่. The verb is common in everyday conversation and is also natural in contexts such as recruitment and customer service.
Usage
It is commonly used when looking for a lost item or a person, as well as when seeking a job, home, store, product, suitable candidate, or solution. In customer service, a staff member may ask คุณกำลังมองหาอะไรอยู่คะ/ครับ, meaning “What are you looking for?”
Caution
มองหา describes the act of looking and does not imply that the target was found. Use เจอ or หาเจอ to say that someone found it. For simply looking at something, use มอง.
Differences from similar words
1 look for synonyms
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ค้นหา often implies searching systematically through information, records, or clues, and is also used for digital searches. มองหา is natural for the everyday act of looking for people, objects, jobs, or suitable options.
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หา is the basic, broadly used verb for “look for.” มองหา more explicitly suggests directing one's eyes or attention toward possible places or choices in order to find something.