อก
chest
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 chest、breast
- 2 heart、feelings
This word primarily refers to the chest or breast. It can also represent the heart as the place where emotions are felt.
chest、breast
The front part of the body between the neck and the abdomen.
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เขากอดลูกไว้แนบอก khǎw kɔ̀ɔt lûuk wáy nɛ̂ɛp òk He held his child close to his chest. เขากอดลูกไว้แนบอก details
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วัดรอบอก wát rɔ̂ɔp òk measure the chest circumference วัดรอบอก details
heart、feelings
The chest viewed figuratively as the seat of emotions, especially inner pain, worry, or other deeply felt feelings.
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ตกอกตกใจ tòk òk tòk cay be badly startled ตกอกตกใจ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image of อก is the front of the upper body between the neck and the abdomen: the chest. It can also refer to the part of clothing that covers this area, as in อกเสื้อ, “the chest area of a garment.” By extension, the chest is treated as the place where emotions are held. This figurative sense is especially common in fixed expressions such as อกหัก, “to be heartbroken,” and ตกอกตกใจ, “to be badly startled.” Some dictionaries also list อก as an abbreviation for Thailand's Ministry of Industry. That is a specialized administrative abbreviation, not a central meaning of the everyday word.
Usage
It is used when talking about chest pain, clothing measurements, holding something against the chest, and chicken breast. It also appears frequently in idioms about strong emotions, including heartbreak, anxiety, and surprise.
Caution
Do not confuse อก, “chest,” with ออก, “to go out” or “to take out.” อก refers broadly to the chest area. เต้านม is more specific for a breast or mammary gland, while ทรวงอก is often used for the chest or thorax in formal and anatomical contexts.
Differences from similar words
1 chest synonyms
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ทรวงอก is a more formal or anatomical term for the chest or thorax. อก is shorter and more common in everyday language.
2 heart synonyms
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จิตใจ refers broadly to a person's mind, spirit, or emotional state. อก presents emotion through the physical image of the chest and often feels more vivid or emotional.
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ใจ is the most general word for the heart, mind, or feelings and is freely used on its own. Figurative อก evokes feelings held in the chest and appears more often in idioms and fixed expressions.