เก็บ

Explanation

The core image of เก็บ is bringing something from an exposed, scattered, or uncontrolled state into a place or condition where it can be managed. This extends naturally to picking things up, putting them away, storing them, and saving money. It can also describe collecting payments or keeping feelings and secrets inside. The common pattern เก็บไว้ means to retain something rather than discard or use it: เก็บไว้ในตู้เย็น means “keep it in the refrigerator,” while เก็บไว้ใช้ทีหลัง means “save it for later use.” In its ordinary senses, เก็บ is a neutral and extremely common everyday verb.

Usage

It is common in everyday situations such as putting away clothes or books, tidying a room or table, and storing leftover food. It is also used when gathering crops or data, saving money, collecting rent or fees, and keeping secrets or feelings to oneself. Especially useful combinations include เก็บของ, เก็บเงิน, and เก็บไว้.

Caution

เก็บเงิน can mean either “save money” or “collect payment,” depending on who has the money and the situation. Also, เก็บห้อง mainly means to put things away and tidy the room; cleaning off dirt is normally expressed with ทำความสะอาด. Be careful when a person is the direct object of เก็บ, since a violent context can give it the slang meaning “eliminate” or “kill.”

1 pick up synonyms

• รวบรวม

  รวบรวม focuses on bringing multiple items or pieces of information together. เก็บ is broader and can also describe picking something up or gathering produce.

• สะสม

  sàsǒm collect

  สะสม means to build up a collection or amount over time. เก็บ can refer to a single act of collecting or picking.

2 put away synonyms

• จัด

  càt arrange

  จัด focuses on arranging or organizing things. เก็บ emphasizes putting loose or used items back in their proper place.

• ทำความสะอาด

  ทำความสะอาด means to remove dirt and make something clean. เก็บ mainly means putting things away and does not necessarily involve cleaning.

3 keep synonyms

• บันทึก

  บันทึก specifically means to record information and is also common for saving computer files. เก็บ is broader and emphasizes retaining something safely.

• รักษา

  ráksǎa maintain

  รักษา emphasizes protecting or maintaining something and its condition. เก็บ is the everyday choice for putting something into storage or keeping it for later.

4 collect (money) synonyms

• คิด

  khít calculate

  คิด, as in คิดราคา or คิดค่าบริการ, focuses on calculating or setting a price. เก็บ focuses on charging or collecting that amount from the customer.

• เรียกเก็บ

  เรียกเก็บ explicitly means to impose or collect a charge and sounds more administrative. เก็บ is common in everyday speech and naturally covers receiving payment.

5 keep to oneself synonyms

• ปิดบัง

  ปิดบัง means to deliberately conceal information and can carry a negative tone. เก็บ focuses more broadly on keeping a secret or emotion contained.

• ระงับ

  raŋáp restrain (an emotion or impulse)

  ระงับ is a more formal word for restraining an emotion or stopping an action. เก็บ is an everyday way to say that someone does not let a feeling show.

6 eliminate [slang] synonyms

• ฆ่า

  khâa kill

  ฆ่า is the direct, ordinary verb meaning “kill.” เก็บ is an underworld-style euphemism, closer to “eliminate” or “take someone out.”