ไปรับ

Explanation

This expression combines ไป “to go” with รับ “to receive” or “to pick up.” Its basic image is going to another place and taking charge of a person or collecting an item there. With a person, it means to go pick them up, normally with the expectation of traveling somewhere together afterward. With an object, it means to go collect or pick it up. The basic pattern is ไปรับ followed by the person or thing. A pickup location can be added with ที่, as in ไปรับลูกที่โรงเรียน, “pick up the child at school.”

Usage

Commonly used when picking up family members from school or work, meeting someone at an airport or station, or collecting packages, orders, documents, medicine, and other items from a store or service counter. It is a neutral, everyday expression.

Caution

Choose ไป or มา according to the direction of movement. Use ไปรับ when going away from the reference point to pick someone or something up, and มารับ when coming toward the reference point. Also, ไปรับคน normally means “go pick up that person,” not “go receive something from that person.”

1 go and pick up (someone) synonyms

• มารับ

  maa ráp come to pick someone up

  มารับ means to come and pick someone up at the reference location. ไปรับ means to go elsewhere to pick them up.

2 go and collect (something) synonyms

• ไปเอา

  ไปเอา is a broad, conversational expression for going to get something. ไปรับ is especially natural when collecting an item that is ready or waiting, such as a package, order, or document.