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Thai

ไข

Pronunciation

khǎy

ไข

khǎy

unlock

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  1. 1 unlock、turn、wind
  2. 2 reveal、explain、solve
  3. 3 fat、grease、solidified oil

ไข mainly describes opening or operating something by turning it, such as a key or screw. It also extends to explaining or revealing something unclear, and as a noun it appears in compounds meaning fat or marrow.

Learning notes

Explanation

As a verb, ไข is best understood as acting on something by turning it, such as a key, screw, or winding mechanism. This physical idea extends naturally to abstract uses like ไขข้อสงสัย, clearing up a doubt, or ไขปริศนา, solving a mystery. As a noun, ไข is most useful for learners in compounds such as ไขมัน “fat” and ไขกระดูก “bone marrow,” rather than as a frequent standalone word.

Usage

You will hear or read it in practical contexts involving keys, screws, and winding mechanisms. It is also common in explanatory writing, news, and mystery-related contexts when something unclear is being clarified. In health or medical contexts, it appears in compounds for fat and marrow.

Caution

For simply opening a door, use เปิดประตู. Use ไขประตู or ไขกุญแจ when a key or lock mechanism is involved. Also keep ไข separate from ไข่ “egg” and ไข้ “fever/illness”; the spelling and meaning are different.

Differences from similar words

1 unlock synonyms

2 reveal synonyms

  • อธิบาย simply means to explain. ไข has a stronger sense of clearing up something unclear, such as a doubt, mystery, or secret.

  • แก้ broadly means to fix or solve a problem. ไข is more about making an unclear matter understandable or revealed.

3 fat synonyms

  • ไขมัน is the common word for fat. ไข by itself can refer to solidified fat or grease, but learners will more often see it inside compounds like ไขมัน.

Component words

Other words containing ไข

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