สำคัญ
important
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 important、significant、key
Describes someone or something as having particular value, influence, or priority, making it important, significant, or central.
important、significant、key
Describes something that matters greatly or plays a central or influential role.
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ครอบครัวสำคัญที่สุดสำหรับฉัน khrɔ̂ɔpkhrua sǎmkhan thîi sùt sǎmràp chǎn Family is the most important thing to me. ครอบครัวสำคัญที่สุดสำหรับฉัน details
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สุขภาพสำคัญกว่าเงิน sùkkhaphâap sǎmkhan kwàa ŋən Health is more important than money. สุขภาพสำคัญกว่าเงิน details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central idea of สำคัญ is that someone or something carries enough weight, value, or influence that it should not be ignored. It is neutral in tone and common in everyday conversation, education, business, and news. As a Thai adjective, it can serve directly as the predicate, as in เรื่องนี้สำคัญ, “This matter is important.” When it modifies a noun, it normally follows that noun: ข้อมูลสำคัญ, “important information.” The expression ที่สำคัญ introduces a point that deserves special attention and can mean “most importantly” or “what is important is....” ความสำคัญ is the noun “importance.” The common pattern ให้ความสำคัญกับ～ means “to consider ～ important,” “to prioritize ～,” or “to place importance on ～.”
Usage
It is widely used when discussing things that matter personally, such as family and health; identifying important information or key points at school or work; and describing significant people or events in the news. ที่สำคัญ is useful for highlighting the point listeners should pay particular attention to.
Caution
When it directly modifies a noun, สำคัญ normally follows it, as in ข้อมูลสำคัญ. To express “prioritize” or “place importance on,” use ให้ความสำคัญกับ～. Also note that สำคัญผิด is a fixed expression meaning “to be mistaken”; สำคัญ does not mean “important” independently within that expression.
Differences from similar words
1 important synonyms
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จำเป็น means “necessary” or “required,” indicating that something cannot be omitted. สำคัญ means “important,” so something can be สำคัญ without being strictly necessary.
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หลัก means “main” or “primary” and often identifies the central part of a structure or category. สำคัญ has a broader sense, covering importance, value, and influence as well as centrality.