leader
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- 1 leader、leading figure、leading organization
Refers to a person or organization that sets direction, influences others, and leads a group or field forward.
leader、leading figure、leading organization
A person who guides or directs a group, or more broadly an organization or other entity that leads a particular field or market.
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เขาเป็นผู้นำที่ดี khǎw pen phûunam thîi dii He is a good leader. เขาเป็นผู้นำที่ดี details
Learning notes
Explanation
The word is formed from ผู้, which turns an action into the person who performs it, and นำ, meaning “to lead” or “to guide.” Its literal sense is therefore “a person who leads.” It can refer to someone with an official leadership position, but it also applies to a person who leads through influence, judgment, or initiative. Companies and other organizations may also be called ผู้นำ when they lead a market or field. When referring to people, it is counted with คน, as in ผู้นำสองคน (“two leaders”).
Usage
Common in politics and news when discussing national leaders, and in conversations about people who lead companies, teams, or communities. It is also frequent in leadership discussions and in business expressions such as ผู้นำด้านเทคโนโลยี (“a leader in technology”).
Caution
ผู้นำ is not necessarily an official job title. Use a specific term such as หัวหน้า, ประธาน, or ผู้จัดการ when you mean a supervisor, chairperson, or manager. Also, ผู้นำ by itself normally means a leader, not a travel guide; ผู้นำทาง or มัคคุเทศก์ is used for someone who shows or explains the way.
Differences from similar words
1 leader synonyms
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ผู้บังคับบัญชา is a formal term for a superior or commanding officer with organizational authority. ผู้นำ can describe anyone who guides others, even without the authority to issue orders.
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หัวหน้า commonly means the person formally in charge of a team or workplace, such as a boss or supervisor. ผู้นำ focuses more on setting direction and influencing or guiding others, whether or not the person holds an official title.