คัน
itch
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 itch
- 2 [classifier for vehicles and certain handled objects]
- 3 be itching to do something
This word most commonly describes an itch. It is also used as a classifier for vehicles and certain handled objects, and as a noun for a rod, handle, or raised earthen ridge.
itch
Describes the physical urge to scratch and, in set expressions, a restless urge to say or do something.
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คันแขน khan khɛ̌ɛn My arm itches. คันแขน details
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ยุงกัดแล้วคัน yuŋ kàt lɛ́ɛw khan The mosquito bite is itchy. ยุงกัดแล้วคัน details
[classifier for vehicles and certain handled objects]
A classifier used for cars, bicycles, and many other road vehicles, as well as certain objects with a handle or shaft, such as umbrellas and fishing rods.
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รถหนึ่งคัน rót nʉ̀ŋ khan one car รถหนึ่งคัน details
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จักรยานสองคัน càkkrayaan sɔ̌ɔŋ khan two bicycles จักรยานสองคัน details
Show more (3)
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รถคันนี้ rót khan níi this car รถคันนี้ details
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ร่มสามคัน rôm sǎam khan three umbrellas ร่มสามคัน details
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ช้อนหนึ่งคัน chɔ́ɔn nʉ̀ŋ khan one spoon ช้อนหนึ่งคัน details
be itching to do something
In set expressions, a restless urge to say or do something.
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คันปากอยากพูด khan pàak yàak phûut I'm itching to say something. คันปากอยากพูด details
Learning notes
Explanation
The most common use is the physical sense “to itch.” A body part can follow it directly, as in คันแขน, “my arm itches.” Set expressions such as คันปาก and คันมือ extend this sensation to a strong urge to speak or act. As a classifier, it appears in patterns such as รถหนึ่งคัน, “one car,” and รถคันนี้, “this car.” The noun senses “rod or handle” and “earthen ridge” occur mainly in compounds such as คันเบ็ด, คันเร่ง, and คันนา.
Usage
It is common in everyday conversations about mosquito bites, rashes, allergies, and other causes of itching, as well as in clinics and pharmacies. Its classifier use is frequent when discussing cars, bicycles, traffic, parking, or purchases. The handle and ridge senses appear in contexts involving tools, driving, fishing, farming, and water control.
Caution
Do not use คัน mechanically for every vehicle or long object. Boats normally take ลำ, aircraft take เครื่อง or ลำ, and pens commonly take ด้าม; classifiers must be learned with their nouns. Also, คันมือ can have a negative implication in some contexts, such as feeling an urge to hit someone or meddle with something.
Differences from similar words
1 itch synonyms
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ระคายเคือง refers broadly to irritation of the skin, eyes, or other tissue. คัน specifically focuses on the sensation that makes you want to scratch.
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อยาก is the ordinary word for wanting to do something. Expressions with คัน and a body part vividly suggest a hard-to-resist urge.